Hours after leaving Black Water City, we traveled through the rugged terrain of the Savage Mountains.
This region teemed with exotic herbs and dangerous beasts. My senses were on high alert—every whisper of movement in the bushes, every flutter of wind, sharpened by instinct. We encountered a few low-level creatures along the way, but they were swiftly dealt with by Frida—her threads whispering through the air like silent blades.
As dusk crept over the sky, the land was bathed in hues of violet and blood-red. Just then, we were greeted by the sound of rushing water—an invitation to rest.
Moments later, we arrived at a river. Its glassy surface shimmered in the twilight, and the sound of a distant waterfall gave the place a serene rhythm. But the tranquility was broken by a slithering presence—a rank-1 serpent, its body coiled tightly, rising and hissing in warning.
Tina spared it only a glance.
The serpent froze, as if entranced. Then slowly, it lowered itself and slithered back into the brush, no longer a threat. We ignored it and set up camp beside the river.
I pulled ten beast carcasses from my inventory, piling them together before initiating synthesis. Bone and sinew began to reshape as black tendrils of energy engulfed them.
From my spatial ring, I retrieved a blunt. A flick of mana lit the tip, and I took a long drag. Smoke curled skyward, mingling with the night breeze, carrying the faint scent of pine and wildflowers.
Tina lay stretched on the grass, silver hair glowing under the moonlight. The cub—still unnamed—leapt across her back, tumbling and pouncing like a bolt of mischief. I chuckled softly and scooped him into my arms.
"You're far too playful, little one," I murmured, running my fingers gently through his fur. He purred softly, eyes closing under my touch.
Only then did it hit me—I hadn't given him a name. Strange, considering everything we'd faced together. I stared at him for a moment, lost in thought. What name would suit such a creature?
Before I could decide, the synthesis completed with a low hiss. I stood and placed the cub back down.
"Guess I'll name you over dinner," I muttered.
Frida moved forward wordlessly, her fingers weaving through the air as she skinned the beast in moments—graceful, silent, precise.
I began cooking a rich meat broth over the fire. The pot bubbled, steam rising as the savory aroma filled the camp. The cub drooled uncontrollably, squirming in Frida's grasp. At one point, he nearly dove into the pot headfirst.
Tina waited with quiet grace, legs tucked beneath her like a queen expecting her feast. The serpent still lingered somewhere in the shadows, but we paid it no mind.
Eventually, the food was ready. Tina ate with deliberate elegance, savoring each bite. The cub, on the other hand, devoured his portion with reckless hunger, soup flying in every direction as if the meal might disappear at any moment.
"Little one," I said, pulling him from his bowl. He was soaked from head to paw, but he didn't seem to care. I placed him gently on the ground.
He licked his fur, tail swishing with contentment.
I let out a quiet laugh—an unfamiliar sound—and knelt beside him. "I thought of the perfect name for you."
My hand rested on his soaked head as warmth bloomed in my chest. A feeling I hadn't known in a long time.
"Bain," I whispered. "Yes… your name will be Bain."
The cub chirped in response, eyes sparkling with approval. I served him another bowl of soup and added a single drop of my blood.
The moment the scent reached him, Bain lunged forward and devoured the soup with even more eagerness than before. His body trembled slightly with each gulp—as if something inside him was changing.
The Next Morning…
I awoke to a rough, wet tongue licking my face. I blinked through the morning light—and found myself staring into the eyes of a massive black lion.
"Bain?" I sat up slowly, stunned. The cub from last night was gone—replaced by a beast radiating strength.
He circled me excitedly, tail whipping through the air.
Look at me, Master—I'm big now! a voice echoed softly in my mind.
I blinked. "Bain?" My voice wavered.
In a playful burst, he leapt at me like he did when he was small, knocking me clean into the river with incredible force.
Such strength…
I stood, drenched, looking up at the towering form. My gaze drifted above his head.
Name: Bain
Level:22
Race: Shadowmane
Element: Darkness
Realm: Mortal
Power Level: 1200
I stared, stunned. He was stronger than Frida back when she was still an Arachne—and now he could speak? Was this a trait of beasts from this world… or something else entirely?
I ran my fingers through his now-thick mane. He purred lowly, his massive frame circling protectively as I stepped back into the river. For once, I didn't care about the terrifying monsters that might lurk beneath the surface.
Far above, at the source of the waterfall…
"Such a sight," a beautiful woman murmured. She stood at the cliff's edge, her crimson lips parted in awe. "Such an amazing sight…"
Her gaze was locked on the strange group below—a silver-haired man, and woman, an unusually intelligent beast… and a peculiar lizard.
The man's ethereal aura dropped her into a trance, as she watched the water particles drip on his body.
Then her eyes narrowed.
Another figure appeared beside her—a man clad in beastlike armor, his aura cold and hungry.
"Ohhh, a Godfall," he said, eyes scanning the man below. "That presence… he feels like a predator."
She turned to look again—only to lock eyes with the strange lizard. It's stare pierced straight through her, sending an involuntary shiver down her spine.
The armored man leaned in. "Dragon blood?"
"No… no, this is too pure," he muttered. "We should report to the Lord of the Mountain."
The woman—the Sky Demon Fox—hesitated, ambition flickering in her strange eyes.
But the man grinned. "Let's capture it. We can always split the reward."
His mind already ran wild with dreams of power.
The offer was tempting—too tempting.
But the demoness shook her head. "Do you see that man's presence? It's…very strange. Why don't wait one day. Then we'll decide if he's worth the risk—or if we give this opportunity to the Mountain King."
With a final lingering glance, she vanished into the wind.
Then the man followed shortly after, though reluctance lingered in his steps.
Back at the river…
I raised my eyes to the distant mountain peaks. Beside me, my companions stood silently.
But Tina—Tina's eyes were locked on the same summit I had been watching.
"Interesting," I muttered.
Perhaps… it's time Tina and Frida stepped into the next realm.