The group was making their way back to camp along the same path they had come when suddenly everyone halted. A creature stood before them. Rowan, who'd been teleporting sporadically, finally stopped when he spotted, in the distance, a small black panther caught in what looked like a trap.
The sleek, ebony panther was a study in desperate grace. Its muscles rippled beneath a coat as dark as midnight, even as it struggled against the trap's cruel grip. Heavy, clanking metal jaws bit into its flank, leaving deep, ragged gouges that marred its inky fur. Its golden eyes burned with a fierce, primal intelligence—a mix of defiance and pain—as the beast twisted and writhed in silent protest. Around it, the forest was eerily quiet except for its labored breathing and the soft scrape of claws on metal. A faint, coppery tang of blood mingled with the earthy scent of damp leaves and moss, and every sinew screamed of freedom now reduced to a slow, agonizing struggle.
The whole group exchanged confused glances, but Rowan's eyes lit up. "Oh, shoot," he muttered. "There's a glowing skull around that trap—one that resembles the ones on my axes." Without hesitation, he teleported the creature. The panther, desperate and panicked, thrashed against its restraints.
Jacob's heart softened at the sight. He stepped forward, moving carefully toward the creature. Connor, conjoined with him, reluctantly followed—annoyed yet unable to disobey. As Jacob approached, he extended his cautious hand. The panther's guarded eyes tracked every move until, slowly, Jacob lowered his hand onto its head. Gradually, the beast's tense stance relaxed.
Rowan frowned at Jacob's unexpected act. Then the system chimed:
Beast Taming Requirement Met: {Shadow Beast LVL 1}
Do you wish to tame this beast?
Without hesitation, Jacob whispered, "Yes." Almost instantly, the panther circled him, its wariness softening further. Connor quickly glanced at Jacob and then at his prosthetic, memories flickering across his face.
"Rowan," Jacob murmured, "you said you and I were friends, right? Can you help me get closer?"
Rowan nodded and placed a hand on Jacob's shoulder. A subtle energy pulsed between them, and as if on cue, the panther turned its gaze toward Rowan—waiting for his command.
The rest of the group looked in awe. Aria's eyes widened in surprise, Markus's expression wavered between admiration and envy, while Lyle and Finn exchanged impressive glances. Even Ramsay, in his sluggish way, attempted a shadow-boxing routine as if to mimic the moment's chaos.
Rowan then walked over to the trap. He placed his hand over the glowing glyph; its radiance slowly faded. Methodically, he reset the trap, reapplying the glyph before rejoining the group. As they watched, they wondered which was more impressive: Jacob's empathetic taming of the beast or Rowan's precise manipulation of the trap's magic.
Lyle mused quietly, "Maybe that's how he managed to get here so quietly. He was thinking back to the fight with the Plumacrypt, how they were cornered, then instantly someone showed up without any noise or anything—perhaps he had a glyph in the area that let him slip in without a sound." He glanced at Rowan, who was now practicing subtle mental commands with the newly tamed panther. The beast emitted a low growl as if amused by the display.
Soon enough, the group resumed their trek back to camp, their steps carrying both hope and lingering uncertainty.
When they finally reached the makeshift settlement—a clearing beneath the forest canopy patched together with scavenged materials, sharpened logs, and a few flickering fires—they felt a collective sigh of relief. The camp, though rudimentary, was home for now. The tired faces of those already settled bore traces of exhaustion and determination.
Rowan surveyed the camp with a critical eye. After a brief pause, he muttered, "Not bad—a bit exposed, though. You sure this is the best spot?"
Lyle shot him a skeptical look. "It's the best we could do right now. We needed a place to regroup and rest. You got a better suggestion?"
Rowan merely smirked and turned his attention to the others, who were busy dropping gear, tending wounds, and preparing food. Despite the tension that still lingered, there was relief in knowing they had pushed further than ever before. They'd survived another battle and grown stronger, a renewed confidence glimmering beneath the weariness.
Connor slumped down, rubbing his temples. "Alright, so we've got a new guy, a growing target on our backs, and a special quest we barely understand. What's next?"
Markus, still sharpening his blade, glanced up. "We need to think long-term. We can't keep fighting every day without a plan. We need resources, a proper shelter—something more permanent than this."
Aria nodded. "And if this battle royale is really happening, we need to figure out what the next part of the quest means. We're not the only ones trying to survive."
Rowan leaned against a crate, arms crossed. "You're catching on. This isn't just about fighting monsters—it's about building something bigger. But be warned: not everyone will appreciate how you build it. When you start recruiting people, some will see you as a threat."
Before he could continue, Jacob broke in, "So, where did you live before all this?" he asked Rowan.
Rowan shrugged casually. "I didn't really have a home. I just slept wherever I could—three to three in a shabby hideout. But hey, if we're building a place now, we might as well make it a proper hideout."
Later that night, as everyone lay down on the floor of the camp, Rowan pointed toward a small tree shelter and said, "I'll be over there." He then casually tossed his axe, teleporting to the shelter without another word.
Lyle exhaled, running a hand through his hair. "Think about that system message earlier—we need allies, more than just us."
Jacob, unusually quiet until then, finally added, "Yes."
In the quiet that followed, all drifted off to sleep except for Rowan. He remained awake, issuing soft commands to the shadow beast Jacob had tamed, ensuring it kept watch over the camp as he himself eventually succumbed to restless slumber.