SSS Rank Dragon Tamer: Unleashed

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And then—he sat. Awkward, as if unsure of his new body's balance. Wings tucked in. Head bowed. A child showing his parents a gift.

Zephyr's chest ached. "You… you did listen," he whispered, stepping forward. His limbs moved slowly, part fear that Star would jump on him like always, part awe.

Star rustled his wings. A faint whine left his throat—small, almost guilty.

Fenna moved beside Zephyr, eyes locked on the drake. "He caught that thing midair," she whispered. "Didn't even burn it. He showed restraint."

Zephyr knelt. "He's thinking more clearly than ever."

Star's snout lowered. He nudged Zephyr's wrapped side gently, a low trill vibrating from his throat.

It wasn't just a concern. It was an apology.

"I'm okay," Zephyr said softly, brushing one hand across Star's nose. "You worried me."

Fenna stepped closer. "He's different. Not just bigger. Smarter."

Star flicked his tail once, then looked pointedly at the meat cart.

Zephyr raised an eyebrow. "First you ask."

Star gave a low chuff. His wings flexed once testing wind but he didn't move.

Zephyr smiled, relenting. "Alright. You earned it. But rationed."

He reached into his pouch and drew the bark-wrapped core he'd taken from the Ember Tusk. It pulsed faintly with an orange red glow.

"Parley offering," Zephyr said. "No more satchel theft, try this instead."

Star stared at it for a moment then he opened his mouth. Zephyr fed him the core. Star didn't bite or crunch. He swallowed it whole. A gentle ripple of steam rolled off his scales.

He licked his snout.

Then, surprising them both, Star curled his neck and laid down beside the cart. Claws tucked. Eyes half-lidded.

Muse mooed uncertainty. Aurora chirped in delight, fluttering from her haunch-perch to land directly on Star's back. She immediately began preening his horn ridges.

Zephyr chuckled. "He came back with a raptor."

"And didn't try to eat us," Fenna added as a joke. "Progress."

They stood side by side, watching the scene. Smoke curled around them. And though the clearing still stank of blood and ash, it felt—for once—like a good morning.

Star's breathing slowed. His tail coiled around Aurora's tiny body, protectively. Peace, for now.

They'd need to butcher the raptor, pack what they could. They'd need more cores soon, higher ones eventually.

But Zephyr wasn't thinking about that yet.

He was thinking of a drake who had flown through smoke and caught a predator in midair and then sat like a loyal pup. Star D-rank power is beyond is immigration.

Fenna leaned against his side, shoulder to shoulder. "He's stronger than I imagined." she said.

"You are right, I thought it would be a hard battle." Zephyr murmured.

And in that quiet, hot silence of the Emberwood forest, between blood and ash, pride and fear— two beast tamers stood together, watching the first sign of greatness stir in their dragon and phoenix.

Zephyr crouched beside the fallen beast Ash Fang Raptor, the air still thick with the scent of scorched feathers and distant blood. Its wings twitched once—then stilled. Not a death spasm. Just nerves unraveling.

He placed his hand on the bird's chest and muttered, "Sorry, friend. You were just hunting like we were."

Fenna watched quietly, her bow lowered. Aurora perched on Star's horn, flicking small fire from her wings in huffy pride, while Muse gave the corpse a wary snort but kept her hooves steady.

Zephyr drew his blade, sharp as an oath, and slid it smoothly beneath the sternum. A hiss of hot, blackened blood misted into the air. He reached deep, fingers slipping over ribs and charred membrane, until they brushed something harder than flesh, warm and alive with residual mana.

With a grunt, he pulled it out.

A core the size of an egg. It was smooth, dark orange streaked with ash-gray. It emerged in his gloved palm, pulsing faintly.

[System Notification- You have obtained: D-Rank Beast Core – Ash Fang Raptor (Predator Affinity).

Use: Feed to beast | Sell | Refine into a weapon.]

Zephyr exhaled. "Core's intact. Good strike, Star."

The drake puffed a lazy plume of smoke, already curled beside the cart like a resting guardian. He didn't even look up. Aurora tapped his brow with her foot and chirped once, as if saying, "Don't get cocky. I will kill bigger ones."

Zephyr wrapped the core in padded leather, as always and stored it in his satchel.

They loaded the raptor's body— battered but still rich with meat, feathers, and talons onto the cart. Muse grunted under the extra weight but didn't complain. She simply began pulling forward again with a quiet, stubborn energy.

Fenna glanced at the sun. "We're still fresh. And there's more than half of daylight left."

Zephyr followed her gaze. "You want to hunt more?"

She nodded once. "That meat won't last forever. Neither will peace. Looking at Aurora, she wants to rank up too. Let's collect some more beast cores."

He smiled. "We've got a phoenix, a dragon, and a glorified cow with battle instincts. Why not? Let's do it. It will be good combat training."

Muse mooed irritable as if saying, "You want me to carry more weight?"

They turned off the main trail, then entered deeper woodland, but still in the outer part of the forest. Emberwood trees thickened around them with twisted trunks, molten bark, leaves red as coals. The air grew hotter, sticky with mana. Their boots sank slightly into ash coated loam.

Aurora took to the air, flying ahead to scout. Star walked beside the cart, tail sweeping softly. Occasionally, his molten eyes would snap toward a rustle or broken branch, but he remained calm. More predator behaviour now than young pup.

Fenna moved through the trees like a flame wrapped ghost, quiet and steady. It didn't take long to find new tracks.

Zephyr knelt near a blackened patch of bark. "Scorch Tail Basilisk," he murmured. "Tail like a whip, licks fire. Maybe E-rank, maybe D."

Fenna nodded. "That's more your type. You bait. I flank."

He grinned. "Like earlier."

She smirked. "Except now you've got a dragon."

They advanced slowly, Star staying low. Aurora flew above the trees, her chirps were soft.

Then the forest shifted. A sudden silence came. Zephyr raised his fist. Everyone froze.

Even Muse.

The wind died. Fenna whispered, "It's watching us."

From the right—movement. Too fast for a basilisk. Also It was too big. Then the brush exploded.

Not one… but three beasts emerged behind the trees. A pack.

[System Alert – Threat Analysis

Detected Beast(s): Emberjack Wolf – x3

Rank: D-Grade (Low to Mid-Tier)

Species Type: Ember Furred Predator Pack

Temperament: Aggressive / Coordinated / Territorial

Special Traits:

Blazing Fang – Jaw pressure enhanced with internal combustion sparks.

Pack Instinct – Gains bonus agility and coordination when attacking in groups.

Ash-Trail Body – Briefly leaves behind an illusory ember trail to confuse prey.

Battle Tip: Do not engage alone. Target separation is advised. Suppress vision and mobility first. Fire resistant companions recommended.

Reward Estimate: Beast Core

Hide: Medium quality, suitable for armor.

Ember Fangs: Rare material (alchemical & blade infusion use)

Warning: Presence of pack leader suspected. Remain alert for higher-ranked variants.]

Low to the ground, with sleek fire ash fur and smoke trailing from their spines. Glowing orange eyes. Teeth like burnt ivory. Emberjack Wolves.

Fenna's eyes widened. "D-Rank. They are coordinated hunter type beasts."

"Fenna, help me by blinding them." Zephyr was already moving. "Star, left flank!"

"Aurora, blind them!" Fenna command.

Star leapt into action, wings half open, letting out a thunderous roar. Aurora dove from above, her feathers igniting in bright flashes— phoenix glare.

The lead wolf charged straight at Zephyr. But he didn't run. Instead, he planted his feet and raised both arms.

"Muse, brace!"

The cow dug in.

The wolf leapt.

Fenna released an arrow from her bow. The shaft turned white-hot mid-flight, ignited by her touch.

It struck the wolf mid-jaw, spinning it sideways, but it didn't fall. The attack was weak.

Star intercepted it, slamming his head into its ribcage. Bones cracked. Flame surged. The wolf yelped, spinning into a tree.

Another wolf charged at Fenna.

Zephyr reached for his belt and flung a bait vial of meat oils and fresh blood from the pig.

It exploded in the air. The wolf turned mid leap, it was distracted.

Aurora struck from above, her talons catching its eyes. The wolf screamed and rolled, burning.

Then the third wolf… it was silent, cunning. It rushed the cart. Toward the meat. They came here for the meat.

Muse bellowed. And kicked. Her hoof struck it under the wolf jaw with a crack like a tree splitting. It flew backward, crashing into brush.

Then, a Silence. But only for a second. From the dark glade ahead… another wolf growls. It was Deeper. Lower pitch. Older voice.

Zephyr turned his chest tightening. The brush parted. And a massive shadow stepped into view. Twice the size of the wolves.

Scars across its neck. A hide black with soot. Red veins glowing faintly beneath the skin.

It was a Dire Emberjack.

Fenna's mouth went dry. "That's no D-rank."

Zephyr swallowed hard. "That's at least a peak / high-D. Maybe even touching C."

Star stepped forward, wings flaring. But the beast didn't flinch. It opened its mouth and fire pooled at its throat.

Aurora screeched. The battle wasn't over. It had just begun.