The forest darkened.
Not because the sun moved but because something far heavier than shadow pushed its presence outward.
Trees bent.
Birds fled.
Fang stepped forward, teeth bared, shadow energy rippling off his body.
Kai felt it clearly now.
Fear.
Not from himself but from the land.
The undergrowth exploded.
A massive beast emerged.
It looked like a bear, but its body was covered in jagged stone plates. Glowing green veins pulsed across its arms, and its eyes burned with savage intelligence.
Name: Stonehide Forest Alpha
Rank: C
Status: Enraged
Trait: Territorial Dominance
"So that's the alpha.
A normal tamer wouldn't even consider fighting this thing.
Kai didn't move.
The system chimed.
Beast Empowerment (Lv. 1)]
Kai raised his hand.
"Fang."
The wolf's ears flicked.
"All of it.
Shadow energy surged from Kai into Fang like a tidal wave. Fang's muscles expanded slightly, his claws lengthening, shadows condensing around his legs.
Speed
Attack
Shadow Affinity
The alpha roared and charged.
The ground cracked under its weight.
"Shadow Step!"
Fang vanished.
The alpha slammed into empty space, its claws tearing through trees. Before it could recover, Fang reappeared behind it, fangs coated in darkness.
Night Fang!
The attack struck but barely scratched the stone plates.
The alpha swung its arm.
Fang was sent flying, crashing into the dirt.
"Fang!"
Kai's heart tightened but the bond held.
Fang rolled, rose, and growled.
Kai's mind raced.
Direct damage wouldn't work.
"Go for the joints," Kai said calmly. "Knees. Neck. Eyes."
The system responded.
Beast Coordination Efficiency Increased]
Fang moved again faster, smarter.
Shadow Step.
Strike.
Retreat.
Again.
Cracks formed in the alpha's stone armor.
The beast roared in fury and slammed both fists into the ground.
The shockwave threw Kai back.
He hit a tree hard but stayed conscious.
Tamer Vitality Critical]
Kai wiped blood from his mouth and stood.
"I'm not done."
The system pulsed.
Beast Resonance Temporary]
Kai felt it.
Their hearts beating as one.
"Fang!"
The shadows around them twisted violently.
End it."
Fang howled.
Darkness wrapped around his body as he lunged one final time straight at the alpha's exposed neck.
The stone plates shattered.
The alpha froze... then collapsed.
Silence.
Kai dropped to one knee, breathing hard.
Then.
A glowing object appeared before him.
An egg.
It was black with silver lines running across its surface, pulsing slowly like a heartbeat.
Classification: Unknown
Potential: High
Origin: ???
Kai stared at it.
Another one.
Fang approached, sniffing the egg then sat beside it protectively.
The system chimed one last time.
Your existence has been registered.
Higher beings have begun observation.
Kai smiled faintly.
"Let them watch.
He picked up the egg carefully.
This is only the beginning.
Far away.
In kingdoms, guilds, and beast realms.
Something ancient stirred.