Mira called from her fire, holding up a clay vial glowing faintly green. "My Lord, the vitality tonic is ready." She hurried over and placed it in Karl's hands. He tilted the vial, watching the liquid swirl, its glow pulsing like a heartbeat.
Karl's eyes narrowed. "It restores full strength, you said, are there any side effects… or limits on its uses?" Mira hesitated only a moment before answering.
"It is safe, my Lord, but taxing to brew.
The body can only accept it once in a day—more than that, and the balance of life energy could turn unstable. As long as it is not overused, the tonic brings nothing but renewal."
Karl nodded, absorbing her words. So, it's powerful, but not limitless. Best reserved for the moments that truly matter.
He stepped close to Thorn, steadying the beast's massive head as he raised the vial. Thorn drank deeply, the green light flowing down his throat. Strength flooded him, vines knitting and vigor blooming until he rose whole once more, eyes gleaming brighter than before.
Thorn pressed his Thorned muzzle against Karl first, a low rumble of gratitude vibrating through his chest, before turning to Mira, bowing his head to her gentle touch.
"This-changes everything. With Thorn fully healed and Ember at our side, we finally have the advantage over the wolves." which made group's morale surged, their bond tightening.
"Well done, Mira," Karl said, clapping her shoulder. Mira blushed, dipping her head.
"Thank you, my Lord."
Karl's gaze drifted toward the edge of the clearing, where Thorny shrubs and clusters of unfamiliar berries glimmered faintly in the half-light. Some carried an acrid tang on the air, their colors too bright, too warning.
"We'll need more than healing tonics," Karl said, his tone sharpening with thought. "Those berries scattered through the territory—some of them are poison, aren't they?"
Mira nodded slowly. "Yes, my Lord. Crude, but potent. Enough to sicken, perhaps weaken, if prepared right."
"Good," Karl replied, voice low but resolute. "Start working on a paste or extract. Something we can coat on weapons—or bait, if need be. If we face stronger beasts, every edge matters, even if it only slows them down."
Mira's eyes lit with determination. "I'll begin at once. With time, I can refine it."
Karl gave a curt nod, satisfaction flickering in his eyes.
With Thorn healed, Karl organized a small hunt within the barrier to test Ember in a real scenario. He targeted dears-like creatures, their meat vital for food and their potential crystals.
"Ember, lead the way," he said, gesturing to the clearing's edge. "Thorn, flank her. Grok, guard our rear."
Ember's Storm Sense flared, picking up a cluster of dears nibbling beneath the tall trees, their long ears flicking at the faintest rustle. With a sharp cry, she folded her wings and dove. A slicing Wind Slash tore through the grass, scattering the startled animals and pinning one helplessly to the earth.
The rest bolted in a frenzy, but Thorn was already in motion. He slipped through the underbrush like a shadow, circling wide before bursting forward. His jaws snapped around the neck of a dear mid-leap, crushing it in an instant. Blood glistened on his fangs as he shook the carcass once, then dropped it at his feet.
Karl surged into the chaos, spear leveled. He picked a fleeing dear and thrust with precision—striking just behind the shoulder. The animal crumpled before it even squealed. As he yanked his weapon free, another dear tried to dart past, but Thorn shifted position, Thorned body forming a wall that cut off escape. He snarled low, forcing the panicked creatures back toward the hunters.
Grok lumbered in with his club, swinging down in a brutal arc that ended another dear's flight. From its body shimmered a Level-1 Essence Crystal.
Ember wheeled above, guiding their movements, her sharp cries pointing out stragglers. Between her keen sight, Karl's steady hand, and Thorn's relentless presence, they cornered the last of the dears, adding two more to the tally.
By the end, five lay slain yielding two more crystals (total: 5) and enough meat to keep the group supplied for two days.
Mid-hunt, Ember's Storm Sense flared, detecting stronger vitalities—boar-like beasts grazing near the barrier's edge. Karl hesitated; their water supply was nearly gone, stored in crude vine pouches. Hunting more meat could wait—water was critical.
"We need to refill at the stream," he said, glancing at the forest beyond.
"Ember, scout ahead. Your flight can keep us clear of those boars and the wolves."
Ember soared above, her Storm Sense mapping the stream's path 50 meters beyond the barrier. Her amber eyes tracked the boars' heavy vitalities, steering the group around them. The wolves' growls echoed distantly, but the boars' presence seemed to deter them, their aggressive snorts a natural shield. Karl, Grok, and Mira moved swiftly, filling pouches with clear stream water, Ember's aerial vigilance ensuring no ambush.
By noon, they returned to the Sanctuary, arms laden with water and meat, the barrier's timer at [2 days, 0 hours 13 minutes]. The boars' presence had bought them time, their territorial grunts keeping the wolves at bay. Karl fed Ember a strip of rabbit meat, her beak snapping it up as she perched proudly. "Good work." he said, while stroking her feathers.
Mira stored the meat in vine-wrapped bundles, her tonic vial tucked safely away. Thorn prowled the clearing, fully restored, while Grok stood sentinel, his club ready. Karl checked his stats, the hunt's success steadying him:
Status Panel:
Name: Karl Varn
Lord Level: Bronze II (0/10)
Stats:
Strength 10 (10 → 7),
Agility 11 (11 → 8),
Vitality 14 (14 → 9),
Intelligence 9 (9 → 4)
Abilities: Breath of Spring
Skills: Herbal Resonance, Vital Touch
Resources: 8 Essence Crystals, 22 Summoning Shards level 1, Sunfire Fruit, Spirit Leaf, bones, dear meat, water
Barrier Timer: 2 days, 0 hours, 2minutes
As the group rested, Ember's Storm Sense snapped taut, her wings flaring wide. A sharp screech tore from her throat, feathers bristling as her gaze locked on the forest beyond the barrier.
Karl's Breath of Spring stirred uneasily. A surge of vitality pulsed through the earth—close, violent, like a monstrous heartbeat pounding beneath the soil. It wasn't the wolves. This was heavier, older, vast and restless.
Then came the sounds. Branches cracked. Heavy footfalls rumbled through the dark, shaking the ground. Somewhere deeper, a chorus of howls rose and fell, hunting cries echoing as if the Wilderness itself was shifting and closing in. The presence pressed against the Sanctuary's barrier like claws scraping glass.
A cold shiver crawled down Karl's spine. Their safety was an illusion. The barrier would fall in just two days, and when it did, the storm outside would pour in with teeth and fury.
He tightened his grip on the spear, forcing steadiness into his voice as he glanced at his companions.
"We can't sit blind behind these walls. Whatever's out there is moving—and it's coming closer. Before the barrier falls, we need to scout it… or it will devour us unprepared."