A Zoologist’s Guide to Surviving Magical Creatures

I dug through my backpack, pushing past snacks, a slightly squashed notebook, and an emergency vial of mermaid-grade hair gel before my fingers closed around what I was looking for—the enchanted rope Agnos and I bought back in Dwarftopia.

Finally, something I spent money on that wasn't a total scam.

Uncoiling the rope, I crouched beside the unconscious cloaked figure and started tying him up using the knots I'd mastered back in my early internship days—because apparently, in Mythica, knowing how to secure an angry griffin came in handy for hostage situations too.

By the time I finished, he was trussed up tighter than a festival roast.

Satisfied, I hoisted him up, and as I did, the souless orb he had clung to slipped from his grip and tumbled to the ground with a dull clink.

With Heim's help, we dragged the guy over to a nearby cavern wall and propped him against it. I dusted off my hands. "Well, that's handled. Now let's check on Bifang."

I turned to the massive firebird—only to feel my stomach drop.

The once-blazing flames that had made Bifang look like a living inferno were dimming, its fiery plumage flickering like a candle struggling against the wind.

Jiuge's tails bristled as she called out, alarm clear in her voice. "Not good! Bifang's power is almost gone!"

Before I could respond, Bifang gave a weak, shuddering cry—and collapsed with a heavy thud.

A gust of heat rushed over us, but it wasn't scalding like before. The firebird's body, which had once burned with an intense, sun-like radiance, was now barely glowing, its flames reduced to nothing but weak embers.

Less bright. Less alive.

Crap.

This was bad.

"What happened?" My chest tightened as I turned to Agnos, panic clawing at my throat.

Agnos's purple cat ears flicked, his expression grim. "Bifang's powers weren't absorbed into the orb—they went into the God Relic instead." His frown deepened. "But the relic's broken. We can't restore its power to Bifang."

The weight of his words slammed into me. "What happens if its powers are completely gone?"

Agnos's voice dropped, almost reluctant. "The place detonates itself. That's the failsafe for security level three. We only have five minutes."

My stomach twisted. "T-then what about Bifang?"

"He will die."

The world tilted. My gaze snapped back to Bifang. The firebird lay motionless, its once-vibrant feathers now dull embers, its breathing ragged. No. No, no, no. There had to be something—anything—we could do.

"Is there really nothing?" My voice cracked, desperation creeping in.

Silence. The three Unknown Gods averted their gazes.

I clenched my jaw. Think. Think, damn it! Then, it hit me—Kaleon's essence.

Frantically, I yanked the token from around my neck, my fingers fumbling as I pressed it close to Bifang. Nothing. My pulse pounded in my ears. Why isn't it working? I shoved it closer, willing it to react. Do something!

Still, nothing.

Frustration boiled over. "This is Kaleon's essence! It should work!"

Bifang stirred, its voice a whisper in my mind. "Owner… it's no use. My powers are too depleted. Your essence alone isn't enough."

No. That couldn't be it. If the token wasn't enough, then what the hell could restore him? I knelt beside him, my fists clenching against the cold stone. "Bifang, please. There's got to be a way."

The firebird exhaled shakily. "No. It's too late. I can only be reborn now."

My breath hitched.

Bifang's dim eyes locked onto mine. "Take the fragment, Owner. Restore the node."

A sharp cough, a flicker of light, and a small fragment tumbled from its beak, landing beside me with a soft clink.

Rebirth. That meant… there was no saving him. Not in this form.

Bifang's voice trembled. "I created a space and hid the creatures and staff from the mall. It was the only thing I could do before my powers ran out. But I couldn't transport them away."

A glow flickered around the firebird's fading body. The portal shimmered into existence. "I'll use my last power to free them. Please… tell Lord Vorta I did what I could. And tell him… the Stragglers are back. He must return to protect the Lost Realm."

The firebird's eyes fluttered shut. Its final ember flared, then—

Light exploded outward.

The portal burst open.

Suddenly, figures poured out—staggering, blinking, alive. Confused murmurs filled the air. One creature pointed straight at me.

"Hey—hey! Isn't that Carl? The guy whose lunch got stolen by a unicorn?"

A wave of recognition rippled through the crowd.

"Oh! Him! The one who got the Kraken into PinkCoral's music video!"

The whispers grew louder. More creatures emerged—beasts, Null Striders, humanoid figures, all spilling into the space, all spared from the catastrophe.

Before I could process it, another rush of footsteps echoed.

The Alpha Team.

They had finally caught up.

At the forefront, Eva rode in on Dash, her grip firm on the reins as the wind whipped through her hair. The rest of the team moved in swiftly behind her, their expressions sharp with urgency.

As soon as Alpha Team arrived and spotted the survivors emerging from the portal, they sprang into action, seamlessly launching their rescue mission.

Their leader's eyes widened. "That's the missing elite investigator team!"

"They're all here!"

Relief hit me like a tidal wave. Bifang had saved them all. Even with its life on the line, it still—

I looked back.

The firebird, once towering and proud, had shrunk. A tiny, ember-colored bird no bigger than a parrot lay curled on the ground, its breath shallow.

It spoke one last time, voice faint. "Owner… I'm glad you're safe."

A chill ran down my spine.

Did it… know me?

"Agnos," I whispered. "Why is it shrinking?"

Agnos's gaze softened. "It's entering its reincarnation phase. Bifang will sleep until it can regain its power."

My fingers curled around the fragment. "Then… what happens to this place?"

Jiuge and Agnos exchanged looks.

"We need to leave. Unless…" Jiuge hesitated.

"Unless what?"

Agnos sighed. "Each node has an emergency protocol in case something like this happens. The soulless orb has another function—to suspend the node when the Guardian is no longer sustaining it."

"That's… good, right?"

Agnos hesitated. "To do it, Heim and I have to combine our powers."

"Okay?"

Jiuge crossed her arms. "Go on. Tell him how it works."

Agnos shot her a glare before muttering, "We have to touch foreheads."

I blinked. "Wait, what?"

Heim, completely unfazed, trotted over like an eager puppy. "You need my help, Agnos?"

Agnos sighed, clearly regretting every life decision that led him here. "Yes. Just—come on."

They took their positions on opposite sides of the node. The dull crystal orb hovered lifelessly. Then, they held hands.

Held hands.

And then—they pressed their foreheads together.

I nearly choked.

A warm glow spread between them, energy crackling through the space. Nine orbs were circling and floating around them. Then the orbs' energy flowed into the node, and it darkened, absorbing the power.

The second they were done, Agnos yanked his hand away and stepped back like he'd touched a cursed object and landed back on the ground.

I exhaled. "So that's the thing."

Agnos shot me a death glare. "One more word and I'll personally end you."

I raised my hands in surrender. "Not saying a thing."

Jiuge smirked. "We need to bring Bifang back to Lord Vorta."

I nodded, knowing what had to be done.

My gaze fell to the fragment on the ground.

I already knew what would happen the moment I touched it. The rush of memories. The searing pain.

But I had no choice.

"But first…" I muttered, bending down. "There's something I need to do as the Fragment Bearer."

Bracing myself, I reached down and closed my fingers around it.

A white-hot shock tore through my skull. The world blurred—memories, emotions, agony flooding in like a tsunami.

And then—

Darkness.