The Ancient Beast Shrine. Lily's excited chatter about a "Wishing Bloom" and a "Guardian Statue" mingled with the steady, powerful thrum of mana Eron felt from the north. It promised answers, perhaps even a way to unlock Raiv's full, mysterious potential. Eron felt a pull towards it, a craving for understanding this evolving game, this shifting reality.
"So, your cousin said a Wishing Bloom helps weaker beasts evolve?" Eron asked Lily, who was practically bouncing beside him. Raiv trotted ahead, his Mana Sense acting like a living compass, guiding them effortlessly through the deepening shadows of the Wounded Fang Forest.
"Yeah!" Lily chirped, her Forest Sprite, Fern, flitting nervously around her head like a leafy hummingbird. Fern, thanks to the "Instinctive Evasion" trait it gained from watching Raiv, now seemed a little less timid, constantly twitching its tiny head, as if anticipating unseen threats. "He said it's super rare, but if you find one, it can 'harmonize latent energies' or something like that. Makes F-ranks super strong, super fast!"
Eron exchanged a glance with Raiv, who let out a low, inquisitive rumble. "Harmonize latent energies," Eron mused. That sounded an awful lot like what was happening with Raiv. The cub was a walking, purring anomaly. A Wishing Bloom might just be the catalyst they needed.
They walked for another hour, the air growing thick with ancient scents, the trees towering even higher. The mana flux from the north was now a steady, powerful throb, a beacon that vibrated in Eron's very bones. It was almost hypnotic.
Suddenly, Raiv stopped dead. His hackles rose, and a low, resonant growl vibrated in his chest. It wasn't the fearful growl for a Snapper or Gnawlers; this was a warning filled with challenge, almost defiance.
Eron immediately tensed. He could feel it too, now. A different kind of presence. Not a wild beast. Something… cultivated. And arrogant.
From the deepest shadows of a cluster of ancient, moss-draped oaks, a tall figure emerged. He was a man, broad-shouldered, with a sneering smirk that seemed permanently etched on his face. He wore oddly futuristic-looking sunglasses, even in the dim forest, and a dark, expensive-looking jacket that seemed out of place in the wilderness.
Beside him, an enormous White Bear ambled forward. Its fur was impossibly pristine, like fresh snow, and its muscles rippled beneath its skin with every step. Its eyes, small and black, gleamed with an unsettling intelligence. This wasn't a wild beast; it was a tamed monster.
[System Notice] – Detected: Tamer "Blaze." Beast: Frostmane Bear (Silver Rank).
Silver Rank. Eron's heart sank slightly. That was two ranks above them, a massive power difference. Most players would barely reach Bronze with their first beast. A Silver-rank early in the Wounded Fang Forest meant Blaze was either incredibly lucky or incredibly skilled (or both).
"Well, well, well," Blaze drawled, his voice deep and mocking. He stopped a few yards away, his bear lumbering to a halt beside him, its sheer size dwarfing Raiv and Fern. "Look what the moss dragged in. Two little F-ranks playing explorer. How cute."
Lily instinctively flinched, pulling Fern closer to her side. Fern trembled, hiding behind Lily's legs.
Eron stepped forward, shielding Lily slightly. "We're just passing through," he said, trying to keep his voice even. He wouldn't let this guy intimidate them.
Blaze chuckled, a harsh, grating sound. "Passing through, huh? This part of the forest is for real Tamers, kid. Not for wannabes and their scrawny little runts." He gestured dismissively at Raiv and Fern. "An F-rank wolf? Please. My Frostmane Bear could probably eat both of you for a snack and still feel hungry."
Raiv let out a sharp, defiant bark, his Mana Sense flaring with barely contained anger. He stepped forward, putting himself between Eron and the large bear.
"Oh, a feisty one," Blaze sneered, a cruel glint in his hidden eyes behind the sunglasses. "Your pet has spirit. A pity it's wasted on an F-rank. Tell you what. I'll teach you little pests a lesson. Frostmane, teach them how real beasts fight."
The Frostmane Bear let out a guttural roar, a sound that shook the very trees. It lumbered forward, surprisingly fast, its massive paw raising, coated in shimmering ice. This was a [Glacial Swipe], a common attack for ice-elemental bears.
Eron's mind raced. They couldn't fight head-on. "Raiv! Instinctive Evasion! Use Fern's trick! Dodge! Lily, you and Fern, stay out of the way! Keep Fern ready!"
Raiv, instead of attacking, darted forward, then twisted, narrowly avoiding the Frostmane's massive paw. The ice-covered claws scraped the ground where he'd been a moment before, sending up frozen dust. Lily, taking Eron's cue, pulled Fern back, scrambling behind a thick tree. Fern, inspired by Raiv's movements, was surprisingly agile, dodging with newfound precision.
"Pathetic!" Blaze scoffed. "Can't even hit them when they're just running. Frostmane, Ice Shard Barrage!"
The Frostmane Bear roared again, and ice shards erupted from its fur, spraying outwards like deadly needles. Eron threw himself to the ground, pulling Raiv down with him, barely avoiding the icy projectiles. A few glanced off his virtual arm, sending shivers through him. This was serious.
[System Notice] – Target: Frostmane Bear's [Ice Shard Barrage] detected.
[New System Rule Activated!] – [Elemental Weakness Exploitation]: Beasts gain a temporary damage bonus when striking an enemy with a recognized elemental weakness. Requires Tamer's mental recognition of the weakness.
Eron scrambled up, his eyes widening at the new system rule. Elemental weakness! The Frostmane Bear was ice. What was Raiv? He had no elemental affinity listed. But then, he remembered the Mana-Infused Spring. Raiv's "Mana Conduit - Minor" trait, and the "inherent elemental affinity strengthening." He remembered the feeling of the spring: vibrant, almost electrical. It was a long shot.
"Raiv!" Eron yelled, his voice strained. "Think... lightning! Think... shock! Focus the mana through your roar!" He imagined crackling energy, a vibrant surge.
Raiv, dodging another clumsy swipe from the Frostmane, let out a piercing, high-pitched bark. It wasn't the deep Echoing Roar or the fear-inducing Primal Howl. This was different. A shimmering, almost invisible ripple of pure energy exploded outwards from him, striking the Frostmane Bear.
[System Notification] – Trait Activated: [Mana Shockwave]. Raiv has channeled ambient mana into a concussive burst. Effect: Stun (Short Duration).
[System Notice] – Frostmane Bear momentarily stunned! Elemental Weakness Exploitation activated!
The Frostmane Bear roared, but it was a confused, pained sound. It staggered, its massive body shaking, its movements jerky. The ice around its claws sputtered and faded. For a brief moment, it was vulnerable.
"Now, Raiv! Coordinated Strike!" Eron commanded, rushing forward. "Lily! Fern! Watch how he does it!"
Raiv, seizing the moment, darted in. He didn't use his teeth or claws. Instead, he slammed his head into the Frostmane's side, a surprising burst of power. Eron, following the "Coordinated Strike" vulnerability, lunged, driving a focused punch into a specific spot on the bear's leg, a glowing weak point.
The combined attacks, especially with the Elemental Weakness bonus from Raiv's Mana Shockwave, were devastating. The Silver-rank bear, already weakened by the stun, roared in agony. It stumbled, then crashed to the ground, its pristine white fur covered in dirt and leaves.
[System Notice] – Frostmane Bear defeated. Experience Gained: 250. Loot Acquired: Frostmane Pelt (Rare), Arctic Claw (Uncommon).
[System Notice] – Tamer Eron has demonstrated superior tactical application.
[System Notice] – Tamer Lily has gained experience through Assisted Combat.
Blaze stared, his jaw hanging open, his sunglasses askew. "What?! My Frostmane?! You beat my Silver-rank bear?! With an F-rank… what is that thing?" His sneer was gone, replaced by shock and a touch of genuine fear.
Raiv trotted back to Eron, panting softly, but his eyes gleaming with pride. He nudged Eron's leg, then looked at the defeated Frostmane Bear. Lily cautiously emerged from behind the tree, her eyes wide with disbelief and awe. Fern, still trembling, slowly approached Raiv, nudging him tentatively.
"This isn't over, runts!" Blaze spat, finally regaining his composure, though his face was flushed with anger. He glared at Eron and Raiv. "You just wait. You'll regret crossing Blaze!" With that, he turned and stomped off into the deeper shadows of the forest, muttering curses, his defeated bear despawning a moment later.
Eron watched him go, a shiver running down his spine. He'd faced dangers in the forest, but other players… that was a different kind of threat. One that brought the unpleasant realities of his real world, of bullying and weakness, uncomfortably close. He had felt alive, yes, but also exposed.
He looked at the dense forest canopy, then at the lingering shimmer of mana towards the Ancient Beast Shrine. The Shrine promised power, but it also promised more risks, more unknown variables. And with players like Blaze roaming around, relying solely on Raiv's incredible anomalies felt… irresponsible. What if they encountered a whole guild of players like Blaze? What if the "Deep Protocol Override" made the game too unpredictable?
Eron knelt, gathering the rare loot from the Frostmane Bear. Lily came over, her eyes still bright with excitement. "Eron, that was amazing! You were incredible! And Raiv… he's the best F-rank ever!"
He looked at Lily, then at Raiv, who nudged his hand. His personal goal wasn't just to feel alive, or to explore mysteries. It was to grow, yes, but also to survive. And to protect those he cared about, even in this virtual world. They needed more than just raw power; they needed information, allies, and a clearer understanding of the game's social landscape.
The Ancient Beast Shrine could wait. There was another kind of training they needed.
"Lily," Eron said, a new resolve settling in him. "Your cousin mentioned a village, right? Where other players gather?"
Lily nodded eagerly. "Yeah! It's called Havenwood Village! It's supposed to be the main hub for the Wounded Fang Forest, where Tamers trade, and practice. It's usually where you go after the Taming Trial."
"Good," Eron said, standing up. He looked at Raiv, who seemed to understand, his eyes holding a new, determined glint. "Then that's where we're going. We need to find out more about this game, about other players. And maybe… find a place where F-ranks like us can truly prove themselves."
[System Update!] – New Primary Objective: Reach Havenwood Village.
Secondary Objective: Gather Information on [Deep Protocol Override] and [Unregistered Data Signatures].
Eron looked back at the deep, ancient forest, then turned his gaze towards a new direction – not the radiating mana of the Shrine, but the more mundane, yet potentially more vital, path towards civilization.