The Pinefall Sector 3 forest trembled with the sound of snapping branches and wild growls. A thin mist clung to the ground, adding a chilling weight to the air.
Luxe moved lightly, his steps nearly soundless thanks to his new Swift Boots.
Beside him, a small wolf with dark-gray fur padded along, its eyes glowing faintly.
Steve glanced sideways, puzzled. "Hey, since when did you have a Pet? And why… did you tame a Feral Beast? Why not a Savage, or at least an Elite?"
Luxe chuckled briefly, raising his new scythe—the blade glimmered with a black aura, fractured with faint green cracks. "After your Tigrix bounty was done and you went home, I kept hunting. He appeared, and I just… felt a connection. So I tamed him. I like him. Besides, any Beast can evolve, right?"
Steve raised a brow, then gave a faint smirk. "Hah, true enough. It's up to us what we tame. But usually, a Pet can only climb one tier above its original rank. If you're lucky—maybe two. Don't expect much more."
"No problem," Luxe replied flatly, patting Miravore's head. Even in his small wolf form, he radiated an unusual presence.
Steve summoned his own companions: Tigrix Rex in its baby form, growling sharply despite its small size, and Crag Bull, a rock-skinned bull with massive, horned strength.
"Alright. Let's get started."
They moved forward. A Gnaw Rat and two Spine Wolves burst from the brush, lunging at them.
"Phantom Sever!" Luxe shouted.
The scythe flared, ghostly green-black wings unfurling in illusion behind him. His swing sliced through the air, leaving afterimages that cleaved the first Spine Wolf cleanly in half.
The Swift Boots let him dart unpredictably, steps impossibly light, weaving between enemies as his scythe spun in seamless arcs.
Meanwhile, Steve's Crag Bull charged headlong, impaling the Gnaw Rat on its horn, while Tigrix Rex clawed into the second Spine Wolf, staggering it long enough for Steve to crush it with his hammer.
Moments later, they stood amidst dissipating essence particles, the Beasts vanishing into nothing.
Steve laughed with satisfaction. "See? I told you—this place has more Beasts than anywhere else. We've barely started and already cleared a pack."
Luxe smirked faintly, brushing dust from his boots. "Yeah. This place is crowded. Perfect for growing stronger."
The two delved deeper into Pinefall's woods. The breeze grew still. Then—noise ahead. Growls. Steel clashing. Shouts. The very air shifted, wild and violent.
Luxe raised a hand, signaling Steve to stop.
"What is it?" Steve whispered.
Luxe pressed a finger to his lips. "Recall your Pets."
They withdrew their Beasts. Luxe seized Steve's arm, shadows rippling beneath them—then SHUP! With Shadow Blink, they reappeared high on a massive tree, hidden in thick leaves.
Steve's eyes went wide. "Y-You can short-range teleport?!"
Luxe gave only a curt nod, eyes locked forward.
Through the branches, they saw them. Ten figures, moving in tight formation. Brutal in appearance, ragged armor, scavenged weapons—yet their movements sharp, efficient.
Rogue Slayers.
Their Beasts were just as savage—Serpent Fang, scales scarred and dripping poison; Ironhide Ape, chain scars still on its body; a Dire Hound, muzzle clamped with iron. Beasts beaten into submission, twisted into weapons.
And before them loomed their quarry: Grimthorn Stag.
A towering Lord Beast, twice the height of a man. Antlers split into jagged black branches glowing faintly with sickly green light. Each stomp of its hooves shook the forest floor, uprooting trees and cracking roots.
"GGHHHRRAAAGHHH!"
The stag roared, tossing two Slayers aside. One crashed against a tree, coughing blood, but the others closed in seamlessly.
Serpent Fang coiled around its leg, venom seeping into flesh. The Ironhide Ape smashed its gut with a steel-plated fist, driving the beast backward.
A masked Slayer vaulted from Dire Hound's back, plunging an essence spear into the stag's shoulder—black blood spraying in a thick arc. Others rushed in, axes slashing at its tendons until the beast staggered.
Steve's face paled. "T-They're really… trying to tame a Lord Beast like this?"
Luxe's gaze hardened. He said nothing, but inwardly acknowledged it: ruthless, but with perfect rhythm. No wasted moves. A machine of brutality.
Bit by bit, Grimthorn Stag sank to its knees, breath ragged, blood trailing down its antlers.
Then the leader stepped forward—a massive man with a pale scar cutting across his face. From his cloak, he drew a Core Vessel: black iron and crimson carvings glowing faintly.
The forest chilled. The very air pressed down as he lifted it high, muttering in a guttural tone.
Blood Pact.
Red light pulsed from the vessel, syncing with the beast's faltering heartbeat.
Up in the tree, Luxe and Steve froze, breath caught in their throats.
Then—
KRAAK!
A branch snapped beneath their weight.
Ten Rogue Slayers' heads turned in unison.
"There's something there!" one snarled.
Steve's heart leapt to his throat, but Luxe reacted instantly. Shadows surged—SHUP!—Shadow Blink dragged them away just as the first beasts lunged.
"Search it!" barked the scarred leader.
Slayers scattered, their beasts growling as they swept through the forest.
Luxe flashed through shadows, hauling Steve with him, until the black mouth of an abandoned mine yawned open ahead. With no choice, they slipped inside.
The air was damp, heavy with rust and old stone. They pressed deeper, darkness swallowing them whole.
Tap… tap… tap…
Footsteps echoed near the entrance. Beasts sniffed the air. Every step rattled their nerves like a drumbeat of doom.
Luxe gripped his subspace ring, ready to summon his scythe in a heartbeat. Beside him, Steve clutched his hammer, sweat cold on his brow.
Then—
"Enough. Let's go back. Just a stray beast."
The voices and steps faded.
Silence.
Luxe finally exhaled, shoulders relaxing.
But Steve didn't move. His face was white, trembling.
"What is it?" Luxe whispered.
Steve couldn't answer—just lifted a shaking finger and pointed into the darkness ahead.
Luxe followed his gaze.
From the black—two pairs of eyes glowed.
One burned with bright, piercing violet.
The other shimmered deep blue, heavy and suffocating.
The mine's air froze. Luxe's chest tightened, breath stuck. Even his heartbeat thundered too loud in his ears.
Then—thud… thud…—the ground trembled softly.
A low hiss slithered out of the dark.
"S-Steve…" Steve's voice cracked.
Luxe's hand clamped his ring, ready to draw his scythe.
But before the shape emerged, the eyes blinked.
Both. At once.
Darkness swallowed everything.