The ancient symbol and its cryptic message, "The Wolf… Unbound," etched itself into Eron's mind. It was a call to a deeper mystery, a hum beneath the surface of the game. Raiv, too, seemed to feel it, his enhanced Mana Sense pulling him towards the northern part of the Wounded Fang Forest, where the system had warned of an "Ancient Beast Shrine" and "critical mana flux."
A thrilling mix of caution and curiosity buzzed inside Eron. He still had so much to learn, so much to prove. Not just to the system, but to himself. He wanted to feel alive, truly alive, beyond the limitations of his real body. And Raiv, his strange, F-ranked companion, was the key to all of it.
"Alright, mystery wolf," Eron said, giving Raiv an affectionate pat as they moved through the dense forest. "We'll head that way. But no charging into danger, okay? We're exploring, not looking for a fight."
Raiv nudged Eron's hand, a low rumble in his chest that Eron took as agreement. The cub's Mana Sense was humming, a constant, subtle guidance system. It led them around hidden thorny patches, past the faint, lingering scent of slumbering predators, and towards pockets of vibrant, pulsating mana that felt strangely alive.
The forest seemed to grow denser, the trees older and more gnarled, as they ventured further north. The air grew heavier, tinged with the scent of damp earth and something else—something ancient and powerful. Eron could feel the thrumming mana more distinctly now, a deep, resonant heartbeat echoing the system's "mana flux" warning.
Suddenly, a series of high-pitched yelps cut through the forest hum, followed by a frustrated, almost tearful cry. It sounded small, and very close. Raiv's ears swiveled, and his hackles rose slightly. He let out a low, questioning growl, looking at Eron.
"Someone's in trouble," Eron murmured, his caution immediately overridden by instinct. "Let's go. Carefully."
Raiv darted forward, his Mana Sense pulling him directly towards the sound. Eron followed, pushing through a curtain of thick vines.
He burst into a small clearing, and his eyes widened. In the center, a tiny figure, a girl no older than ten or eleven, was frantically trying to shield an even tinier creature. The girl had bright, wide eyes, her brown hair pulled into pigtails that bounced with her distressed movements. Her beast was an F-rank Forest Sprite, a delicate thing made of woven leaves and twigs, no bigger than a rabbit, trembling visibly. It had large, luminous eyes that glowed faintly.
They were cornered by a Wild Snapper. It was a fearsome-looking plant monster, like a giant, ambulatory Venus flytrap, its gaping maw filled with razor-sharp teeth. It snarled, lunging repeatedly, its thorny vines lashing out. The little Forest Sprite yelped in terror, hiding behind the girl's legs, barely able to dodge.
"Oh no!" Eron muttered. This Snapper wasn't high-rank, maybe mid-Bronze, but for a new player and a timid F-rank beast, it was a death sentence. The girl, despite her fear, stood her ground, trying to protect her Sprite.
Eron didn't hesitate. "Raiv! Primal Howl! Focus on the Snapper!"
Raiv, without a second's thought, bounded forward. He unleashed a short, sharp burst of his newly acquired Primal Howl, a guttural sound that seemed to vibrate the very air.
The Wild Snapper flinched, its gaping maw snapping shut. It staggered back a step, momentarily disoriented by the unexpected concussive force and fear effect.
"Now, Raiv! Coordinated Strike!" Eron yelled, rushing forward. "Get its attention! I'll go for the base!"
The girl, startled, looked up, her wide eyes fixing on Eron and Raiv. "You're… you're helping?"
"Stay back!" Eron shouted, not breaking stride. Raiv, understanding the command, darted around the disoriented Snapper, barking to draw its focus. The plant monster roared, turning its attention to the grey wolf.
Eron moved in, circling wide. He saw the faint shimmering vulnerability window appear around the Snapper as Raiv distracted it with feints and barks. This was their chance. He drove his virtual foot into the base of the Snapper's stem, feeling the satisfying crunch as the plant monster swayed. Raiv immediately followed up, snapping at one of its thorny vines, momentarily exposing another weak point near its root.
[System Notice] – Wild Snapper defeated. Experience Gained: 80. Loot Acquired: Snapper Vine (Common), Snapper Root (Common).
[System Notice] – Tamer Eron has successfully executed [Assisted Combat].
The Snapper shuddered, its great maw drooping, and then it wilted, collapsing into a pile of decaying leaves and thorns.
Eron panted, adrenaline still thrumming. He turned to the girl, who was staring at him, then at Raiv, then at her trembling Forest Sprite.
"Are you okay?" Eron asked, crouching down, his voice softening. Raiv trotted over to the small Forest Sprite, nudging it gently with his nose. The Sprite, still quivering, looked up at Raiv, its luminous eyes wide, then slowly, tentatively, nudged back.
"I… I am," the girl whispered, her voice shaky. "Thank you! Oh my gosh, thank you! I thought we were done for! Fern's not very good at fighting." She gestured to her tiny Sprite.
[System Rule Unlocked!] – [Shared Bond Resonance]: When a Tamer assists another Tamer in combat, a portion of the defeated beast's experience is shared, and both Tamers' beasts gain a temporary [Bond Resonance Boost] (increased bond gain for a short duration).
Eron blinked at the new system rule. Shared Bond Resonance! So helping other players actually helped him and Raiv. That was a neat twist.
"Don't worry," Eron said, offering her a reassuring smile. "Raiv here isn't exactly a born fighter either. He's F-rank." He nodded towards his wolf.
The girl's eyes widened again. "He is?! But he was so… fast! And that roar!" She looked at Raiv with new admiration. "Mine's F-rank too. Her name's Fern."
"I'm Eron," he replied, feeling a genuine warmth spread through him. It was nice, connecting with another player. He hadn't realized how lonely it had been, even with Raiv. "Your Fern looks like a fast one. She dodged that Snapper pretty well."
"She's a great dodger!" Lily confirmed, her spirits clearly lifting. "But that's it. She's too scared to attack."
As Lily spoke, Fern, still trembling slightly, suddenly perked up. Its glowing eyes fixed on Raiv, who was now calmly sniffing the defeated Snapper carcass. Then, to Eron's surprise, a faint, almost invisible shimmer radiated from Fern, directly towards Raiv.
[System Notification] – Forest Sprite Fern has witnessed adaptive combat.
[New Trait Unlocked!] – [Instinctive Evasion] activated: This creature gains an enhanced ability to predict and evade incoming attacks, especially when observing a more skilled ally.
"Whoa," Lily gasped, her eyes fixed on the system notification above Fern. "A new trait! She just got… Evasion? From watching Raiv?"
Eron grinned. "Looks like it. Your Fern just learned something awesome." He felt a sense of pride, not just for Raiv, but for helping another player. It wasn't about being the strongest, but about being smart, adaptable, and having a reliable partner.
"That's so cool!" Lily practically bounced. "Thank you, Eron! You saved us! What were you doing out here? Are you looking for the Trial Grounds too?"
"Nah, not exactly," Eron replied, glancing towards the northern direction Raiv's Mana Sense had been pulling him. "We were heading... further in. Looking for something specific. An Ancient Beast Shrine, maybe?"
Lily's eyes grew wide. "The Shrine? I heard about that! They say there's a really old Guardian Statue somewhere near there. My cousin, he plays this game too, he said a 'Wishing Bloom' might grow there. He said it's super rare and could help weaker beasts evolve!"
Raiv, who had been calmly gnawing on a piece of Snapper meat Eron had tossed him, suddenly perked his ears. His head snapped towards the north, and his Mana Sense flared distinctly, pulling Eron's attention with it. The powerful, rhythmic pulse he'd felt earlier intensified, and a faint, almost melodic hum seemed to eman emanate from the northern forest. It was a new sound, distinct from the ominous warnings, almost like a song of power.
[System Update!] – New Anomaly Resonance: Ancient Beast Shrine and Guardian Statue location confirmed. [Deep Protocol Override] manifesting as a tangible landmark. Current objectives expanding.
Eron looked at Lily, then at Raiv, whose eyes were fixed on the northern trees, gleaming with an undeniable purpose. A Guardian Statue and a Wishing Bloom. And the system was calling it a "tangible landmark" of the Deep Protocol Override.