Into the Snake's Den

The creature's talons dug deep into the earth, carving trenches as it prowled forward, its slit-pupil eyes locked onto the group. A guttural growl rumbled from its chest, sending a shudder through the trees.

Jacob's triumphant expression evaporated.

"Uh… so… about that beast-taming thing…" he muttered.

"Shut. Up." Connor whispered, already pulling Jacob back.

Markus tightened his stance, hands clenched as he studied the creature's every movement. Aria's fingers hovered near her coat pocket, ready to summon a weapon if needed. Finn, daggers in hand, had already shifted slightly to the side, positioning himself for a counterattack if the creature lunged.

The massive beast exhaled, releasing a blast of heat that shimmered in the air between them. It was watching them, waiting, assessing.

Then, the system chimed in Jacob's head.

Crimson Strifelion—Level 12

Status: Agitated

Jacob paled. "Oh, that's bad. That's really bad."

Lyle exhaled through his nose, staying as calm as ever. "We have two, with levels five, three, six, and one on level seven," he said, clearly referring to himself. It's level twelve."

"We can take it." Jacob forced a grin.

Connor shot him a murderous glare. "We're running."

The Strifelion let out another earth-shaking roar, its wings flaring outward. The glowing veins along its body pulsed, and the air around it began to distort from the sheer heat.

Then it lunged.

"MOVE!" Markus barked.

The group scattered. The creature's massive claws slammed into the ground where they had just been standing, sending dirt and debris flying.

Ramsey was confused by the whole ordeal; he lay down on their ground flat.

Jacob, barely dodging, grabbed onto Connor's sleeve as they sprinted into the dense forest. His mind raced. He had just tamed the faequill—maybe it had a skill?

"Come on, little guy," he muttered. "Do something useful."

The faequill, still perched on his shoulder, let out its melodic hum. In an instant, the air shimmered, and the space around Jacob and Connor bent slightly. The Strifelion's next strike slowed just a fraction—a single heartbeat of hesitation—but it was enough for them to dodge again.

Jacob's eyes widened. Illusion effect?

The others were weaving between the trees, trying to split up and regroup. Finn was already scaling a nearby rock formation, eyes scanning for an opening. Lyle had taken a defensive position behind thick brush, while Markus—ever the tactician—was guiding Aria toward higher ground.

Then Jacob's system chimed again.

Beast Ability Unlocked—"Fae Mirage ""

Jacob grinned through the panic. "Now we're talking."

With a quick mental command, the faequill released another hum, its body glowing faintly. Multiple shimmering copies of Jacob and Connor flickered into existence around the battlefield.

The Strifelion snarled, momentarily confused by the mirages. It swiped at one, but its claws met nothing but air.

Connor panted, glancing at Jacob. "Tell me you can do that again."

Jacob smirked. "I can do that again."

But the Strifelion was learning. Its slitted eyes darted between the illusions, then snapped back to Jacob. It knew.

With a furious snarl, it raised its wings and—

A flash of silver.

Finn.

His dagger, thrown with pinpoint precision, embedded itself just behind the creature's eye. It wasn't enough to kill, but it was enough to hurt.

The Strifelion howled in rage, flailing as it tried to shake off the pain.

"RUN!" Finn shouted.

Nobody argued.

They bolted through the trees, ducking branches and leaping over roots, their breath ragged and desperate.

Jacob risked a glance back. The Strifelion was still thrashing, disoriented but furious.

They had seconds.

Then—

A deep, resounding horn echoed through the forest.

Everything stopped.

The Strifelion froze, its wings slowly lowering. Its ears flicked toward the sound. Then, without another growl, it turned, spread its wings, and disappeared into the sky.

Silence.

Heavy, stunned silence.

Jacob, panting, turned to Connor. "…Okay. What the hell was that?"

No one had an answer.

But whatever had sounded that horn—whoever had tamed the wilderness enough to make a monster like that retreat—was out there.

Aria was scanning the area when she noticed that Ramsey hadn't moved—he was still lying on the floor. Without hesitation, she went over and grabbed him.

The group was scared; they, like the strifelion, ran and made their way into a place they weren't planning on going. They ran into a place that had… Imagine a dense, humid jungle teeming with life, where the thick canopy overhead lets through only slivers of sunlight. The air is thick with moisture, and the ground is soft and spongy underfoot, covered in layers of fallen leaves, vines, and rotting vegetation. The trees are tall and twisted, their bark rough and gnarled, providing perfect hiding places for the creatures that call this place home.

The ground slithers with movement, as hundreds of snakes of various sizes and colors coil through the underbrush. You can hear the faint rustle of scales against the foliage, a soft hiss punctuating the air as the snakes navigate through the shadows. Some are small, their vibrant patterns blending into the jungle floor, while others are massive, their long bodies winding through the thick undergrowth like living ropes.

The group came to a halt when they noticed the trail of snakes winding through the area. They instinctively fell silent, knowing that making any noise could attract unwanted attention. Recalling the strength of the strife lion they had seen earlier and how quickly it had fled, they knew it was crucial to remain undetected. Every movement was careful and deliberate as they did their best to stay out of sight and avoid drawing any attention to themselves.

Except, of course, Jacob. He spotted an egg nearby and couldn't resist grabbing it. But as soon as he touched it, something unexpected happened.

Ding!

Imprint: skill activated

You have successfully tamed Basilisk lvl-1.

In his attempt to stop Jacob, Connor accidentally grabbed one of the eggs. It was red, standing out against the others, and the one that Jacob grabbed.

Connor watched as Jacob's eggs disappeared into tiny golden particles flying upward and slowly disappearing. Under his breath, he muttered as he summoned a small green baby snake.

"Your turn," Jacob said, a mischievous grin on his face.

Connor tried to ignore him, but Jacob continued making noise, determined to get his attention. Connor focused on the egg, doing his best to ignore the distraction. The only notification that popped up was:

Skill Activation: Soul Flame Eternal Link.

But nothing else happened.

"See?" Connor said, shaking his head. Jacob sighed. "Bummer," he muttered, while Connor placed the egg back where it had been; a small greenish hue could be seen; then it quickly disappeared.