Tamer's Path

As we began our trek back to town, the air was alive with the subtle hum of nocturnal activity. Lilia and Asura took the lead, their combined presence creating an aura that warned nearby creatures to keep their distance. For the first time, the oppressive danger of traveling at night felt manageable, even enlightening. I could feel the unease in the group dissipate as they realized this was a rare opportunity to observe the forest's most elusive hunters without being seen as prey.

It was George who broke the silence first, his gaze fixed on a ghost owl perched silently on a branch above. The owl was an ethereal creature, its translucent feathers shimmering faintly like moonlight on water. This wasn't my first encounter with the Bronze-ranked predator, and its silent power was palpable. George stared at it, captivated, and I could tell by his expression that owls were more than just a passing interest for him—they were his favorite.

"You really like it, huh?" I said, watching the way his eyes followed the owl's every movement.

He didn't deny it, just nodded with a faint smile. I hated to burst his bubble, but I reminded him that the ghost owl was far too powerful right now and that its ghost-type nature would conflict with the mechanical upgrades he specialized in. He didn't respond immediately, but I could tell he was mulling it over. In the end, it was his choice.

We pressed on, the eerie silence occasionally broken by distant howls. I noticed the ghost wolves slipping through the shadows on a hunt, their spectral forms barely distinguishable from the darkness itself. Seeing them reminded me of the earth bear we'd encountered earlier. Jun must have been thinking the same because he turned to me.

"Do you think we can check on that bear and its cub?" he asked, a tinge of concern in his voice.

The question caught me off guard. I'd all but forgotten about them. It was impressive that Jun still had them on his mind after everything we'd been through.

"Lilia," I called out, "can you confirm if we're near that spot?"

She closed her eyes, her connection to the forest stretching outward. After a moment, she nodded. "It's not far."

I didn't think the wolves would attack the adult earth bear—it would cost them too much. But the cub was a different matter. Its smaller size and lack of experience made it an easy target.

"The wolves will come for the cub," I said, more to myself than anyone else. "We can keep them safe tonight, but they'll return tomorrow. And the next day."

Jun's jaw tightened. "We can't just leave them like that." He paused, then added, "A stranger saved my family during the apocalypse. If it wasn't for them, I wouldn't be here. I can't just stand by and let a family get torn apart—not even monsters."

His words made me pause. I wanted to tell him that these situations were different, that it was natural for creatures to face such struggles. But then I thought about my own partners—Lilia, Asura, Voltis. They were more than monsters; they were family. I nodded.

"Alright," I said. "Let's go."

The group followed me without hesitation, moving quickly through the dense forest. As we neared the clearing, the scene was exactly as I expected. The ghost wolves were circling the bears, baiting the adults to leave the cub exposed. The mother earth bear stood protectively in front of her child, her massive form bristling with fury, but even she couldn't keep up with the wolves' relentless tactics.

That all changed the moment Asura emerged from the shadows. The wolves froze, their spectral forms flickering like a candle about to be snuffed out. Asura didn't even have to attack; his presence alone was enough to send them retreating into the night.

For now, the bears were safe. But Jun was right—this was only temporary. The wolves would return.

"Lilia," I said, "talk to them. See if they have somewhere safer to go."

She stepped forward, her aura calm and inviting. The bears were wary at first, but Lilia's soothing presence worked its magic. Slowly, the mother bear began to relax, and soon they were communicating through her unique ability.

After a few minutes, Lilia turned to us. "They have a solution. They're siblings, and there's another group of bears not far from here. If we can escort them there, they'll be safe."

Jun looked relieved, and I couldn't help but feel the weight lift slightly off my shoulders as well. At least there was a solution this time.

"Asura, guide them," I said, watching as the dark figure moved to the bears. The family hesitated briefly before following him, trusting the shadowy figure despite their instincts.

As they disappeared into the forest, I glanced at Jun. "Looks like today's your lucky day," I said with a smirk. He smiled back, and for the first time since the battle with the assassin bug, the mood felt lighter.

Walking down the forest path, the tension of the night had eased with laughter. Amber, in her usual sharp-witted manner, teased Jun.

"Jun's going to end up running an orphanage for monster families with all the ones he keeps trying to save. Except in his case, he'll adopt the parents too!"

Jun groaned, trying to defend himself, but the laughter was infectious. "At least I have principles. Amber, you're so obsessed with weapons, your future husband's probably going to be a monster made out of guns and blades!"

George clutched his chest dramatically, wiping an imaginary tear. "Ah, poor Amber's tragic love story—married to a weaponized monstrosity. Who'd have thought?"

Amber rolled her eyes, but even she couldn't hide her smile. The jokes lightened the atmosphere, and Lilia led us confidently through the dense forest. But without Asura, I stayed on high alert.

---

That vigilance paid off. The moment the laughter subsided, the forest shifted. A bone-chilling cold seeped into the air, and an oppressive weight settled over us. Emerging from the shadows was the Umbra Revenant, a creature of nightmares.

It floated eerily above the ground, its form a twisting mass of living darkness. Its sharp, gleaming teeth and bright white eyes pierced the void of its shadowy body. Haunting whispers echoed around us as the faint images of trapped souls surfaced across its form, their spectral faces contorted in silent agony.

The aura it exuded was suffocating, its sound like nails dragging against the soul itself. Even without physical form, it was among the most feared dark creatures, especially at night when its powers peaked.

Before anyone could act, it released a guttural scream—its Curse Words. My barrier flared to life, encasing the group in a protective shield to block its effects.

"Stay calm!" I barked, my voice sharp. "Lilia, take the lead."

She didn't hesitate, her radiant aura of nature cutting through the oppressive energy like sunlight piercing storm clouds. Roots imbued with her energy erupted from the ground, attempting to ensnare the creature. But the Umbra Revenant was slippery, its body slipping away like smoke caught in a draft.

It retaliated with a tendril of darkness, coiling around Lilia and trying to drag her into its abyss. Lilia countered, her petals shimmering with energy as they shredded through the dark tendrils. She retaliated with a Flower Cannon, the blast of energy sending the creature crashing to the forest floor.

The Revenant rose again, its form shifting like liquid shadows. It released a piercing scream, this time targeting Lilia's soul directly. She faltered for a moment, giving the creature the opportunity to engulf her in a dome of absolute darkness.

---

I'd been waiting, letting Lilia handle it, but the moment the dome of darkness enveloped her, I acted. My rifle hummed to life, the energy in its core condensing into a blinding beam. Aiming at the dome, I fired. The energy ripped through the shadowy prison, forcing the Umbra Revenant back and injuring it in the process.

"Snap out of it, Lilia!" I called, my voice cutting through the chaos.

She emerged, her body trembling as she purged the creeping darkness that tried to possess her. With a determined look, she unleashed her ultimate attack.

"Petal Storm!"

Thousands of energy-charged petals erupted around her, forming a swirling domain of light and life that clashed against the Revenant's dark essence. The petals sliced through the air, preventing it from escaping into the ground or retreating into the shadows.

The Revenant fought back with its claws and beams of darkness, but it was overwhelmed by the relentless storm. Piece by piece, it was subdued, finally collapsing into a smoldering shadow on the ground.

---

I walked over, studying the creature as its form began to stabilize. The souls trapped within its body faded, and what remained was a pure shadowy figure awaiting my decision.

"I'll take it," I said, releasing the energy from my taming space. The Umbra Revenant resisted for a brief moment before the contract was sealed.

Its evolution potential intrigued me. The Erebus Wraith, its advanced form, was a harbinger of darkness and master of soul manipulation. It would evolve into a tall, humanoid shadow with a hauntingly humanlike face, red eyes glowing from behind a helmet-like structure. Its flowing form of darkness would ripple like liquid, and its clawed hands would be capable of tearing through both physical and ethereal beings. The Wraith's mastery over soul and darkness abilities made it a creature of unparalleled power, able to harvest and manipulate the energy of defeated foes.

Lilia breathed heavily as she retracted her petals. "That thing was tough," she admitted.

"You handled it," I replied, giving her a nod of approval.

---

As we prepared to move on, Asura reappeared, his shadowy form descending from the canopy. "Mission accomplished," he said, his voice tinged with mild regret. "Though, I'm disappointed I missed the fun."

"You call that fun?" Amber asked, raising an eyebrow.

Asura grinned—or at least, I think he did. "Anything that makes my master stronger is a good time."

With Asura back, the forest felt a little less threatening, and we continued our journey, ready to face whatever came next.