I am Just an Average Tamer

In an unknown town nestled between two forested ridges, chaos tore through the streets like a storm without warning.

Chaos erupted like wildfire.

Doors slammed shut. Windows bolted. Mothers dragged crying children inside as the town square emptied in seconds.

"Lock it! Lock it now!"

Shutters rattled. Lamps were snuffed out.

The once-busy market square now lay deserted, abandoned baskets rolling with the wind, scattering fruit and cloth across the stone pavement.

From the town's barracks and watchtowers, the guards came pouring out, their armor hastily donned, some still fastening chestplates as they rushed to their positions.

They formed up along the outer barricades, spears bristling, bows drawn tight.

And then it came—

Howls. Roars. Screeches.

They echoed from the forest edge—getting closer.

Panic flickered in their eyes.

"This… this isn't right," a young guard muttered, glancing toward the tree line. "It's too early. Beast waves never come this soon…"

A rumble echoed, the ground subtly trembling beneath their boots.

Eyes turned to the town's captain, a hardened man with a scar across his brow.

"Shields up! Loose formation! Archers, to the left flank! Don't let them get past us!" he barked, his voice cutting through the rising fear.

The first wave of beasts burst from the tree line like a nightmare unleashed—fangs, claws, eyes gleaming with wild fury.

And then they clashed—steel and claw, flame and blood—as the town's fragile order was tested by the storm of fangs and claws.

------

A blur streaked past the mossy forest floor, kicking up leaves and dust in its wake.

Kai's breath came shallow as he darted past twisted roots and hanging vines, eyes scanning, heart hammering.

It had been hours since he began searching, and still—no tracks, no scent trail, no clue.

Then—

A sharp howl pierced the air, and a Duskhound leapt from the underbrush.

Its dark grey fur shimmered faintly with an unnatural sheen, and its eyes glowed a hungry red. It lunged, snarling, jaws wide.

Kai sidestepped, sliding low, barely avoiding the snapping maw.

Before he could steady himself, three more Duskhounds emerged from the shadows.

Their claws scraped the earth as they circled him, growling in unison.

"Fuck—Vex!" he called.

A flash of black blur answered. Vex burst forth from his shadow, her eyes glowing menacingly, locking at their prey.

The fight began in an instant.

Kai slashed his dagger upward, slicing through one Duskhound's neck in a burst of gore.

Vex pounced onto another, claws slicing through its throat with a savage swipe.

The last Duskhound growled and lunged—only to find Vex already there.

But her movement was sluggish. Sloppy.

She faltered slightly, and had to dodge twice before finally ending the beast with a frustrated, heavy blow.

Kai's eyes narrowed. "What was that?" he snapped.

"You're still sloppy," He growled, stepping toward her. "Still dragging your paws like back then."

Vex lowered her head slightly, then let out a sharp meow.

"Don't give me attitude!" he snapped. "You think you can afford to act cute after getting wiped like trash?"

Just then, the familiar blue panel hovered in front of him.

[<Calm down, boy. Your mind is a mess. Think straight, don't lose focus on you current task.>]

He blinked, chest rising and falling.

Then sighed.

"...Right."

A pause.

He took a few deep breaths, fist unclenching.

"...Sorry," he muttered, glancing at her.

"I shouldn't have snapped." But Vex huffed, clearly unimpressed, and turned her back on him with a flick of her tail.

Kai's brow twitched.

"No time for drama."

He moved forward again—Vex following, albeit with attitude.

A few more beasts tried their luck—feral and enraged. He cut them down with clean strikes, barely slowing his pace.

Something was wrong.

This aggression… it wasn't natural.

He skidded to a stop, eyes scanning the trees.

"What the hell's going on...?"

[<You've forgotten Elina's power?>]

His eyes widened slightly.

'Oh… right.'

Then.

His eyes glazed as Vael sent a sharp mental ping—an image painted directly into his mind.

A dense patch of forest… a clearing with broken branches… and figures—the traffickers—locked in battle with a small pack of beasts.

Without a second's pause, Kai veered sharply to the right, sprinting through the dense thicket.

Leaves whipped against his face as he carved a path through, every step guided by Vael's shared sight.

Meanwhile, deep within the forest—

The traffickers were surrounded, fending off three large beasts.

The burly man stood at the center, his massive war axe cleaving through the air with brutal precision.

Another lunged—he twisted, using the beast's own momentum to cleave it apart.

Each swing cut beasts in half—blood splattering the grass, his expression unfazed.

His lackeys weren't slacking either—swords, spears, and crude weapons danced as they fought tooth and nail.

"Damn it—there's too many!" one shouted, hacking at a beast's throat.

Another yelled, "Boss! Why aren't you just scaring them off with your aura?"

The burly man didn't turn.

His axe dripped crimson as he wiped his mouth with the back of his hand.

"We're deep in the forest now," he grunted.

"These aren't your garden-variety pests. There are high-level beasts here."

He eyed the treeline warily.

"If I release my aura carelessly... the big ones will notice."

He slammed his axe into another beast's spine.

"Then we'll have a real problem."

Another beast lunged—

A lackey stabbed it clean through the chest with his sword.

Before he could even exhale in relief—

A blur swept past behind him.

The burly man's eyes widened.

"Behind you—!"

Too late.

The lackey collapsed, gurgling, a deep red line slashed across his neck.

Blood sprayed like a fountain, pooling under him in seconds.

The others froze.

"What the—?!"

Then the beasts pounced on the fallen man's body—tearing into it, growling as flesh and bone cracked under their jaws.

The men staggered back in horror.

From the treeline, the blur moved again—faster this time.

Straight toward another.

But before it could reach—

Wham!

The burly man hurled his axe, whistling through the air like a cannonball.

It slammed into a tree trunk right in front of the blurry figure.

Kai landed, boots skidding across the dirt, the axe handle inches from his chest.

Silence fell for a brief moment.

Everyone stiffened.

The burly man's eyes narrowed.

The half-mask covered Kai's face, jagged and cracked.

He grinned coldly.

"Yo."