Fantasy Family Simulator (FFS)

Rhett was filled with wonder. "Wow, the saying 'Red sky at night, sailor's delight!' even holds true here? Or is it just a coincidence?"

As Rhett admired the sunset, the caravan pressed forward and finally reached a spot that could be considered scenic—a forest of colorful pine trees. The vibrant pines were a sight to behold, but the others, who had passed through here many times, were already tired of the view. Instead, it was the sunset that drew their attention.

Tuck turned to his father and asked, "Should we go straight through the forest or take the long way around? The detour would add about an hour to our journey, but going through might mean dealing with some monsters."

"Yeah, we've had a few run-ins with monsters here over the years," Rylee added.

"Monsters, you say?" Rhett's eyes narrowed as he looked ahead. He had been wondering all day when the Flame Lion would show up. It seemed likely that it was right here!

A flash of understanding crossed his face, and he smiled, pointing forward. "We're going straight through. With me here, there won't be any surprises!"

"Exactly! With Father leading us, what's there to fear from some low-level monster?" Tuck's confidence surged, and he spurred his horse, Blackie, onward.

"Hyah, hyah!"

The black horse surged forward with powerful strides, its elegant form cutting through the plains as it charged into the colorful pine forest. Having traveled this route before, Blackie seemed to recognize the forest and sped confidently ahead.

The sound of hooves pounding the earth alerted the predator lurking within the forest.

An aging lion, its fur a deep crimson, rested against a sturdy pine tree. Its keen eyes, peering through the gaps between the trees, spotted its prey moving through the forest. Licking the air with its tongue, it gazed down from above like a king surveying its domain.

It was the undisputed ruler of this forest!

Although it had been driven out of the Flame Lion King's territory in the Beast Mountain Range, it still commanded respect here. Over the past few days, it had killed three lower-level beasts, asserting its dominance.

After defeating the previous ruler of this forest, a Rock Serpent, and making a meal out of it, it hadn't encountered any more suitable prey.

Now, after two days of waiting, it was growing restless. If it didn't catch something soon, it might have to move on. Accustomed to hunting in the Beast Mountain Range, it had developed a taste for magical creatures and found ordinary animals less satisfying.

The prey it now spotted didn't seem too dangerous but emitted a faint aura of fighting spirit, which only whetted its appetite further.

Unable to resist, the lion leaped from its perch, accelerating as it hit the ground with a powerful swing of its tail, streaking forward like a flaming comet. Its presence was overwhelming, a force that crushed most low-level monsters.

Tuck, who had been charging ahead confidently, expecting to pass through the forest unscathed, suddenly felt the hairs on the back of his neck stand up. A low growl from his right sent a shiver down his spine. Turning toward the sound, his face paled as he spotted the creature.

"Damn, there's really a monster here!" He quickly adjusted his stance, his eyes gleaming with determination as he drew his sword and raised his shield.

From the sound, he guessed it was a lion or tiger-like beast, though he wasn't familiar with this particular growl. It didn't matter. He knew the best way to deal with such creatures was to face them head-on.

These beasts were usually fast and strong, so running away would only expose his back and make him an easier target.

"Neighhh!"

Blackie, confused as to why its master had pulled on the reins, stopped in its tracks, only to hear the rapid thudding of heavy footsteps approaching.

"Roar!"

The powerful roar echoed through the forest as a massive Flame Lion, with razor-sharp claws, emerged from the dense pines. The light breeze ruffled its fiery red fur, making it appear as though it were ablaze. The beast exuded an aura of magical power that terrified lesser creatures.

Blackie, sensing the immense threat from the larger, stronger Flame Lion, trembled in fear for the first time in its life.

The lion, too, spotted the black horse and its eyes gleamed with hunger. This looked like a fine meal.

With a powerful push of its hind legs, the lion leaped three meters into the air, intending to crush its prey with overwhelming strength.

"Bring it on!" Tuck stepped forward, exploding with speed even faster than Blackie's full gallop. Wielding his sword and shield, he prepared to face the beast head-on.

As the lion came closer, Tuck extended his sword, aiming to strike first. His sword's reach was longer than the lion's claws, and if it continued its current trajectory, he would land a hit.

But the lion, with a sneer in its eyes, wasn't so easily fooled. Enraged by the challenge, it opened its jaws wide and let out a deafening roar. With a burst of air from its mouth, flames erupted, filling the air with scorching heat.

Unlike human magic, a magical beast's attack could be both physical and elemental. The lion's fire magic wasn't as refined as a mage's spell, but it drew on the energy from its magic core, expelling it in a powerful blaze.

Tuck's heart raced, realizing that the flames were about to engulf him. It was too late to retreat—turning his back now would only result in a fiery death.

As the flames closed in, surrounding him with their searing heat, a fierce light sparked in Tuck's eyes. His blood surged, pushing him into a heightened state of awareness.

Unconsciously, his fighting spirit flowed through his body, activating a part of the technique he had learned the previous day—a high-level leg-strengthening move.

In an instant, he channeled his energy into his legs, propelling himself forward with tremendous force. His body shot out like a spear, parallel to the ground.

During this motion, he also switched the position of his sword, retracting its edge and raising his shield to bear the brunt of the flames. With unyielding determination, he charged straight at the lion.

The roaring flames were reflected in Tuck's eyes, but they only fueled his resolve.

The Flame Lion, seeing its flames fail to overwhelm the human, grew even more enraged. Drawing more energy from its core, it compressed its chest, releasing another, even more powerful burst of fire.

Boom!

Tuck made contact!

The heavy impact sent shockwaves through his body, and he heard what sounded like teeth breaking. But he had managed to survive the inferno, crashing to the ground in one piece. Wincing from the pain in his arm, which had twisted unnaturally during the impact, Tuck prepared to charge again, ready to finish off the beast.

He knew well the principle of striking while the enemy was weak.

The Flame Lion roared in pain, its beastly instincts taking over. Struggling to its feet, its vision blurred, it still managed to pinpoint Tuck's location by scent alone.

Suddenly, a deep yellow spike shot up from the ground, impaling the Flame Lion through the chest with pinpoint accuracy, right through its heart.

The spike burst through the beast's back, dripping with blood—a chilling sight to behold.