Only the distant cries of nocturnal animals and the occasional rustle of leaves disturbed the eerie stillness of the night. Flickering campfires cast long, twisting shadows on the trees, making them seem alive—dancing and shifting with each gust of wind.
Despite his exhaustion, Rowan lay in his tree shelter, half-awake, eyes half-open, mind refusing to rest. Below him, a shadow panther prowled silently. Its emerald eyes glowed like burning embers in the darkness, every step deliberate, every ear twitch sharp with attention. It wasn't just standing guard—it was listening. Sensing.
Suddenly, the crack of a twig echoed in the night. Rowan tensed. His hand instinctively went to his axe, fingers trembling slightly.
The panther's ears flicked. It turned toward the sound, a low growl rumbling from deep in its throat.
Rowan's eyes narrowed, scanning the darkness.
Then, from between the trees, a voice—soft and breathless—called out.
"Rowan."
Emerging from the shadows were Jacob and Connor, the conjoined twins, joined seamlessly at the hip and lower back. Their dual presence was striking as always—Jacob's face bright with eager curiosity, while Connor's wore a deep scowl of annoyance, arms crossed.
The panther's growl subsided slightly but didn't fade entirely.
Rowan exhaled, sitting up on his branch to look down. "Couldn't sleep either?"
Jacob shook his head, his half of the body shifting slightly against Connor's. "Not exactly," Jacob muttered, casting a glance at the panther before speaking more firmly. "We think we need to hunt."
Rowan arched a brow. "Now? It's barely past midnight."
Connor sighed heavily. "Tell him that," he grumbled, glaring sideways at Jacob.
But Jacob stood firm. "We're running low on supplies. If we wait till morning, we'll lose the trail."
Rowan hesitated a moment, then gave a soft chuckle. "Alright, alright." With fluid ease, he dropped from his perch, landing lightly beside them.
The panther padded over to Jacob's side—though Connor flinched slightly when it brushed close—before the beast turned, eyes scanning the forest.
Muscles rippling, it crouched low, ready to move.
The Hunt Begins
With Rowan leading, they slipped into the forest's depths, shadows stretching long around them. As they walked, Jacob's eyes lit up, spotting something peculiar up ahead.
[Identify Skill: Dotilda (Lvl 1)]
Suspended from a branch was a large, strange insect—like a ladybug, but the size of an apple, its wings shimmering faintly like stardust. Each golden spot on its shell pulsed softly, forming glyphs that shimmered defensively when disturbed.
Jacob's face broke into a grin. "Look at that, Connor! We could catch it!"
Connor groaned. "Seriously? You dragged us out here for a glowing bug?"
But Jacob was already moving closer, reaching a hand toward it.
The Dotilda's shell suddenly expanded into a translucent dome, deflecting Jacob's fingers just before contact.
A glowing system prompt materialized before them:
Beast Taming Requirement Met. Tame this beast?
Jacob didn't hesitate. "Yes."
You have tamed Dotilda (Lvl 1).
Connor gave an exasperated sigh but didn't argue further as they moved on, following Rowan deeper into the woods, now accompanied by their tiny glowing companion.
The Plumacrypt, the Battle
Suddenly, Jacob and Connor stiffened in unison as they spotted a Plumacrypt—a massive, avian-like creature perched nearby, its sharp feathers glinting like steel.
Jacob nudged Rowan. "Let me handle this one."
Rowan glanced at them both, then nodded, stepping aside.
The twins took a stance—Connor's hand raising first, energy swirling into a sharpened Metal Spear, while Jacob coiled green serpentine energy into his palm, summoning Emerald Ensnarement.
In perfect sync, Connor hurled the spear, and Jacob's serpent shot forward, wrapping around it to guide and accelerate the strike. The combined attack slammed into the Plumacrypt, making it screech and recoil.
The beast lunged in retaliation, but Connor reacted instantly—Metal Shield forming around them. The Plumacrypt, intelligent and agile, darted to the side, trying to flank them.
"Jacob!" Connor barked.
Jacob was already on it—calling on Dotilda's new ability:
Skill Activation: The Spotted Guardian's Aegis
A shimmering dome snapped up around them just as the Plumacrypt's talons slashed down, bouncing harmlessly off the barrier.
Another system message blinked:
Skill Unlocked: Aspect Shift.
Jacob grinned, but there was no time to celebrate. With the beast circling, Jacob conjured another spear of emerald energy, hurling it straight into its flank.
The creature roared, staggering.
"Now!" Jacob called.
They summoned Faequill, and instantly, a cloud of illusory clones filled the clearing—mirage duplicates of the twins, confusing the Plumacrypt.
As the beast lashed out at the phantoms, Connor smirked.
Skill Activation: Metal Spear.
The real spear shot like a lightning bolt, piercing through illusions and striking the Plumacrypt's skull.
With a final shriek, the beast fell.
You have slain Plumacrypt (Lvl 14).
The Neophyte Azurefang Strifelion
Before they could rest, a guttural roar echoed. Rowan tensed, axe ready.
From one of his traps thrashed a Neophyte Azurefang Strifelion (Lvl 6)—a cub, its icy silver-blue fur gleaming, eyes like frozen lightning.
Rowan's face lit up. "Jacob, Connor. Think you can tame that one? I want to ride it."
Connor groaned. "You sure about this? It's our level—barely."
But Jacob was already stepping forward, pulling them along. "Let's do it."
Skill Activation: Imprint.
Jacob reached out a hand as Connor muttered, "This is a bad idea."
The cub lowered its head but suddenly lunged, snapping at their arm. The twins recoiled, laughing breathlessly.
"Again," Jacob said, eyes sharp.
Beast Taming Requirement Met.
You have tamed Neophyte Azurefang Strifelion (Lvl 6).
Jacob turned to Rowan, clapping a hand on his shoulder. A pulse of energy linked Rowan to the cub, bonding them.
The panther at Rowan's side sniffed the new companion curiously.
But before anyone could speak, the trees quaked with heavy steps.
From the shadows, a massive adult Strifelion emerged—Azurefang Strifelion (Lvl 20). Its wings spread wide, eyes glowing with wrath.
"Looks like Mom showed up," Connor muttered, scowling.
The beast roared, unleashing a wave of azure flames.
"Scatter!" Rowan barked.
Jacob reacted fast—Fae Mirage flared to life, scattering illusions everywhere as the Strifelion's flames tore through false targets.
Rowan hurled his axe, the blade spinning through the air like a boomerang, aiming for the creature's neck.
Above them, a system prompt blinked faintly:
Skill Cooldown: Fae Mirage.
The illusions flickered and died, but the twins stood their ground.
Connor gritted his teeth. "You had to pick that cub."
Jacob grinned. "Worth it."
As the Strifelion turned to charge, the twins braced together, ready to fight side by side—joined in body, mind, and battle.