The "Mana Sense - Latent" trait pulsed in Eron's mind like a faint, distant echo. Coupled with the system's chilling warning of "Unregistered Data Signature Detected," it painted a picture of Raiv that was far from the F-rank failure everyone, including the game itself, seemed to believe. The leftover Bristleboar meat, gnawed to the bone last night, had filled their stomachs and, Eron noticed, Raiv seemed a little more energetic this morning, his limp slightly less pronounced.
Their current Shelter Cave, while providing initial safety, was too exposed. It was a shallow depression, easily discovered. Eron knew they needed to find something more secure, especially if Raiv truly harbored secrets that went against the game's core programming. That thought sent a jolt of both fear and exhilaration through him. This wasn't just survival anymore; it was an investigation.
"Alright, buddy," Eron whispered to Raiv, who was already awake, sniffing the air near the cave entrance. "New home. Deeper in. Safer."
Raiv responded with a soft whine, his tail giving a single, decisive wag. He seemed to understand, his intelligent gaze fixed on Eron. Their connection, though unspoken, felt stronger with each passing hour. Eron found himself relying on Raiv's instincts more and more, a trust born of desperation and the cub's uncanny abilities.
Stepping out into the Wounded Fang Forest, the air was thicker today, heavy with the scent of damp earth and distant, unknown flora. The sun was higher, filtering through the dense canopy in shimmering shafts, but the forest floor remained in a state of eternal twilight.
As they moved, Raiv's behavior was different. Instead of just sniffing for food or danger, he would occasionally pause, his head cocked, his small body tensing. He'd look at a seemingly empty patch of air, or an unremarkable cluster of bushes, then subtly pull Eron in a different direction. It wasn't always obvious, but Eron began to notice a pattern. When Raiv pulled away, they often avoided a hidden danger Eron would have walked right into – a patch of stinging thorns, or the faint, almost imperceptible scent of a slumbering predator. This was Raiv's Mana Sense, perhaps, subtly guiding them.
They had been trekking for what felt like hours, moving deeper into uncharted territory, when Raiv suddenly stopped dead. His hackles rose, his ears flattened, and a low, guttural snarl vibrated in his chest. This wasn't the wary caution he usually showed; this was pure, unadulterated warning.
Eron froze, his hand instinctively going to Raiv's head. "What is it, boy?"
From the undergrowth ahead, a rustling began, growing rapidly louder. Then, a pack of creatures burst forth: Forest Gnawlers. They were like overgrown, mutated weasels, sleek and black, with glowing red eyes and teeth that looked unnaturally long and sharp. Each one was small, no bigger than Raiv, but there were at least five of them, moving with synchronized predatory intent. Their Rank, Eron knew, was low-tier Bronze, but their speed and numbers made them dangerous.
One Gnawler darted forward, aiming for Raiv's flank. Eron tried to push Raiv back, but the cub moved with unexpected speed. He didn't engage directly. Instead, he dodged, a blur of grey fur, weaving between the Gnawlers with an agility that seemed impossible for an injured F-rank. The Gnawlers snapped and snarled, their red eyes glowing with hunger.
"Raiv, retreat! We need to find cover!" Eron yelled, trying to analyze their surroundings. There was no clear escape. The Gnawlers were too fast, too numerous.
As one Gnawler lunged at Eron, Raiv suddenly put himself between them, his small body intercepting the attack. The Gnawler's teeth scraped against Raiv's ribs, but before it could sink its fangs deep, Raiv let out a sharp, piercing bark – a sound that seemed to carry an unexpected force.
[System Notification] – Trait Activated: [Echoing Roar]. Raiv's vocalizations now carry a concussive force, briefly disorienting low-rank enemies. Activation linked to defensive intent and Tamer bond.
The Gnawler that had attacked Raiv stumbled backward, shaking its head, momentarily stunned. The other Gnawlers paused, their glowing eyes flicking to the disoriented one, a flicker of confusion in their predatory instincts.
"Echoing Roar?" Eron breathed, utterly astonished. This was a combat trait, a genuine skill! And it was activated by his bond with Raiv. This F-rank wolf was continuously defying every system expectation.
"Raiv, keep doing that!" Eron commanded, pointing to another Gnawler. "Disorient them!"
The cub, remarkably, seemed to understand. He began to dart and weave, letting out short, sharp barks that echoed strangely, each one sending a minor shockwave that made the Gnawlers flinch and hesitate. It wasn't enough to defeat them, but it bought them precious seconds.
Eron used these seconds to search for an escape route. He spotted a narrow crevice in a rock face nearby, barely wide enough for him to squeeze through. Raiv, being smaller, could follow easily.
"To the crevice, Raiv! Lead the way!"
Raiv barked again, driving back two more Gnawlers, then pivoted and sprinted towards the crevice. Eron scrambled after him, diving headfirst into the narrow opening as the Gnawlers recovered and lunged. He felt the brush of a Gnawler's claw against his foot as he squeezed through, but he was in.
He turned, peering through the gap. Raiv was already inside, his body pressed against Eron's leg, his low growl still echoing faintly. The Gnawlers snarled, frustrated, their glowing red eyes peering into the darkness of the crevice, unable to follow.
They were safe for now. Eron slumped against the cool rock, heart pounding, adrenaline coursing through him. He looked at Raiv, who was now panting softly, his chest rising and falling.
"You… you saved us, boy," Eron murmured, stroking Raiv's head. "Again."
Raiv nudged Eron's hand, a soft, warm pressure. The bond felt stronger than ever, a tangible connection in the virtual world. Eron opened his beast's status screen, curiosity burning within him. He expected to see the "Echoing Roar" trait listed, and maybe an updated bond level.
[Beast Status: Raiv]
Rank: F (Glitched)
Evolution Stage: Hatchling
Traits:
- Instinctual Forager (Active)
- Resistance to Environmental Toxins (Active)
- Echoing Roar (Active)
- Mana Sense - Latent (Dormant)
- ??? (Unregistered Trait Signature)
Primary Stats:
Strength: 2
Agility: 4
Endurance: 3
Instinct: 7 (Anomaly Detected)
Bond Level: 12% (Accelerated)
Eron stared. "F (Glitched)"? And "Instinct: 7 (Anomaly Detected)"? Most F-rank hatchlings had Instinct stats around 2 or 3. Seven was unheard of, especially for a cub. And what was "??? (Unregistered Trait Signature)"? It was like the system was trying to categorize something it couldn't fully comprehend.
This crevice led deeper into the rock, opening into a small, naturally formed cavern – a much better shelter than their last. It was dark, but dry, and felt incredibly secure. Eron pulled out his meager scavenging tools and began to set up a rudimentary camp.
As he worked, his gaze fell upon a strange etching on the back wall of the cavern, half-hidden by shadow. It wasn't a natural formation. It was a crude, ancient-looking symbol, unlike anything he'd seen in the game's standard lore. It looked almost like a stylized wolf's head, but with lines radiating from it, like energy. Beneath it, etched even fainter, were two words in an ancient, forgotten script.
Eron squinted, trying to make them out. The game often had hidden lore, but this felt different. More... fundamental.
He finally deciphered the words, his heart giving a jolt.
"The Wolf… Unbound."
And then, just below the strange symbol, a new, stark system notification materialized, chilling him to the bone.
[System Warning!] – Deep Protocol Override Detected within Wounded Fang Forest Zone. This area is no longer strictly bound by Taming Trial parameters. Tamer Eron's actions are influencing localized reality manifestation. Seek hidden anomalies.