The forest was different today.
Denser.
Wilder.
Alive in a way the training grounds never were.
Nyxian noticed it immediately as she followed Jax beneath the canopy, sunlight breaking into fractured ribbons across moss and bark. Unlike with Zee or Bunny, there was no blanket laid out. No careful clearing.
Beasts lived here.
And Jax looked completely at ease.
Unarmed.
"So," Nyxian said lightly, hands clasped behind her head as she walked, tail swaying, "is this training going to involve you carrying me home like you did with Aurabelle? Because I don't think she's walking until tomorrow."
Jax didn't look back.
"That depends on whether you master your skills like she did."
Nyxian smirked."Promises. Promises."
They moved deeper, slowing as sounds shifted—growls, snapping branches, distant wingbeats.
"This is different," she said, more serious now.
"Yes," Jax replied. "Because you're different."
She rolled her eyes. "Flattery already?"
He stopped.
Turned.
"No. Expectations."
Nyxian blinked, then laughed softly. "Alright, teacher. Lay it on me."
They crouched atop a ridge overlooking a small clearing just as movement erupted below.
A B-rank Gryphon descended in a blur of feathers and talons, crashing into a pack of E-rank Dire Wolves. The fight was brutal and fast. Five wolves fell in seconds.
Nyxian inhaled sharply.
"That thing's strong."
Jax nodded. "And distracted."
Before she could respond, he vanished.
The air buckled.
A pressure wave slammed outward, snapping branches and whipping Nyxian's hair back violently. She barely had time to gasp before Jax reappeared beneath the Gryphon—
And punched.
The impact detonated like thunder.
The Gryphon's neck ceased to exist.
The body collapsed in a lifeless heap.
Nyxian stared.
She'd not seen Jax fight before.
At least, not like this.
Barehanded. Casual. Absolute.
"…Wow," she whispered.
Jax turned, utterly calm.
"Come on. Time matters."
They stood over the corpse as her system flickered to life.
Would you like to use Summon Shadow to extract Gryphon?
Nyxian swallowed.
"Alright," she muttered. "Let's do this."
Create a command word or phrase.
She hesitated.
Then smiled.
Summon
She chose without shame.
"Summon."
Purple light flickered—
Then died.
Shadow Summon Failed.
2 attempts remaining.
Nyxian frowned. "What?"
She tried again.
"Summon."
Nothing.
Shadow Summon Failed.
1 attempt remaining.
Her jaw tightened.
Jax stepped closer, resting a hand on her shoulder."It's okay."
She shook him off gently. "One more."
"SUMMON!"
Silence.
Shadow Summon Failed.
No attempts remaining.
Nyxian stood frozen.
Her fingers curled into fists before she realized she was clenching them.
"…That's not funny."
Jax met her eyes. "That's why we train."
Her smile faltered.
Before they moved on, Jax looked at the Gryphon.
Would you like to use Summon Shadow to extract Gryphon?
"Yes"
There was no force in his voice. No demand.
Arise
A Black and Purple Gryphon shadow emerged from the body. It stretched into existence and sat before Jax.
Would you like to Name your new summon?
Jax was not one to get too fancy with names.
Gryph
Nyxian just looked at Jax.
"Show off."
"Maybe it's your mana level, or the level of the beast," Jax wondered. "Let's try the others to see."
They walked to the Wolves to test his theory.
Her system notified her.
Would you like to use Summon Shadow to extract Dire Wolf?
"Yes"
"SUMMON"
Failure after failure.
All five wolves were spent in attempts.
Hours passed.
The tried on other beasts they saw in the forest fall.
A boar. A horned elk. Three Madness Deer.
All were failure, after failure.
By the time the sun dipped low, Nyxian's confidence—once unshakable—had cracked.
"I don't get it," she snapped finally. "This is MY Legendary. I chose it. Why won't it work?"
"Because power doesn't answer entitlement," Jax said quietly.
"It answers understanding."
That hit harder than any failure.
They walked in silence.
Then came the snake.
A C-rank Anaconda-like beast, massive and coiled, ambushing a small group of ferret-kin creatures. One ferret turned back—leaping into the snake's jaws so the others could escape.
Nyxian sucked in a breath.
The sacrifice was to futile, as it's tail spun around to ensnare the rest of the ferret clan.
Jax moved.
The snake died instantly.
But Nyxian wasn't watching him.
She knelt beside the dying ferret, hands trembling as the poison took effect.
"…You did good," she whispered, as the ferret creature passed on.
Her system chimed.
Would you like to use Summon Shadow on the Dark Ferret?
Nyxian didn't shout.
Didn't posture.
She placed her palm gently on the ferret's head.
"Yes."
Purple energy bloomed—deep, rich, alive.
"Summon," she said softly.
The shadow rose.
Small. Sleek. Solid.
It stretched out before her, with new life. It screeched it's little high pitched scream.
In the forest area, the little sound reverberated off the trees.
Would you like to name your Shadow Companion.
Nyxian laughed—and cried at the same time.
"Echo."
Jax smiled.
Nyxian hadn't failed.
She'd just been trying to summon for the wrong reasons.