A deafening roar shook the air as the A-rank monster lunged forward. It wasn't a wolf—it was a Vorthian Mauler, a massive feline-like beast with obsidian-black fur, razor-sharp claws, and piercing yellow eyes that gleamed with bloodlust.
Lucien barely dodged as its claws sliced through the air, tearing apart the ground where he had stood a second ago. This thing was fast.
[Oh wow, you're actually fighting a proper A-rank! Congratulations! You're gonna die.]
Lucien gritted his teeth, pushing his exhaustion aside. He was already wounded from fighting the C and B-rank monsters earlier. His mana reserves were dangerously low.
But he wasn't alone.
"Ignis, let's take this thing down!"
FWOOOSH!
Ignis flared up, his flaming form blazing with power as he rushed at the Vorthian Mauler, aiming for its face.
Lucien slashed at the beast's legs while Ignis attacked from above.
The Mauler roared, swiping at Ignis, but the fire spirit's ethereal form let him phase through some of the attacks.
Lucien managed to land a cut on the beast's side, but his own injuries were slowing him down. Each movement burned. His mana was running dry.
Then—
The beast turned its focus solely on Lucien.
It lunged.
Lucien tried to dodge, but his body was too slow—this was it.
But just as the Mauler's claws were about to tear him apart—
THUD!
The injured silver beast—the Guardian—charged in, ramming the Mauler away.
Lucien's eyes widened. "What are you doing?! You're already—"
The Guardian growled weakly, standing between Lucien and the Mauler. It wasn't going to let him die.
The battle raged on, but lucien with Ignis and the Guardian working together, the Vorthian Mauler was finally defeated.
Lucien collapsed to one knee, gasping for breath. The Guardian—its body covered in deep wounds, barely clinging to life—stumbled toward its child.
Lucien moved to help, but…
The Guardian collapsed.
"I—I can heal you(with healing portion)! Just hold on—"
The Guardian turned its head, looking at Ignis, and let out a weak growl—words in an unknown language.
Lucien watched as Ignis's fiery form flickered.
The spirit's eyes darkened with sorrow.
"Lucien… she's saying her final words."
Lucien's chest tightened. "What did she say?"
Ignis hesitated, then spoke, his voice quieter than ever.
"She was the Guardian of this forest… but she was betrayed. A powerful demon influenced the monsters, turning them against her."
Lucien's fists clenched. "A demon?"
Ignis nodded. "She also… begged us to protect her child."
Lucien turned his gaze toward the small, trembling beast cub.Alone. Helpless.
His heart sank. He couldn't just leave it here.
But if he took it back to the Academy, they'd never allow it.
He needed a way to protect it.
Then—a thought hit him.
He pulled out the Summoning Book and flipped through the pages.
And there it was—Beast Contract.
Lucien knelt beside the cub. "If I do this… you'll be safe with me."
The cub hesitated but slowly moved toward him.
Lucien took a deep breath and placed his hand on its head.
"By the contract of spirits and beasts, I offer my bond. In return, you shall walk beside me as my companion."
A bright light surrounded the cub.
[Congratulations! You've obtained a new summon! No idea what it does, but hey—good luck.]
Lucien felt a surge of power rush through him.
+5 to all stats!
[Oh wow, you actually got stronger. Maybe I should encourage more emotional moments like this.]
Lucien ignored the system, looking down at the cub. Something had changed.
To be continued…