A pulse of raw energy surged through the jungle.
Leon felt it crawl up his spine, an invisible force wrapping around him and the Shadowfang Guardian. The air crackled as the unseen presence of Gaia, the world's system, observed the forming contract.
This wasn't just a simple taming.
He was breaking the balance.
No one—not a single player in his past life—had tamed an Epic-grade beast before the game even launched.
This was uncharted territory.
And yet—he was doing it.
---
A Beast's Will
The Shadowfang Guardian let out a low rumble, its golden eyes fixed on him.
Taming an ordinary beast required forcing a bond through skills or items.
But taming a beast of this caliber?
It was different.
Leon could feel the creature's will resisting—not out of hostility, but out of instinct.
It wasn't rejecting him.
It was testing him one last time.
Would he falter?
Would he hesitate?
Leon clenched his fists.
No.
"I will never abandon my beasts," he declared, his voice steady. "I am not your master. I am your partner."
The resistance wavered.
The golden eyes watching him flickered with something new.
Acknowledgment.
Then—
The Shadowfang Guardian bowed its head.
And the contract snapped into place.
---
A New Companion
A sharp pain flared in Leon's chest—a burning sensation, like something carving into his very soul.
A system prompt flickered.
> [Contract Successful!]
[You have tamed: Shadowfang Guardian (Epic)]
[This beast is bound to your soul. Only death can sever this link.]
Leon exhaled, his body trembling from the intensity of the connection.
The Shadowfang Guardian let out a low growl, stepping closer.
Leon lifted a hand, brushing it against the beast's thick fur.
A bond unlike any he had ever felt before solidified between them.
This wasn't just a contract.
This was loyalty.
---
Beyond the Impossible
Leon checked the beast's updated status.
[Name: Fenrir]
[Species: Shadowfang Guardian]
[Grade: Epic]
[Level: 75]
[Abilities:]
Shadowmeld: Becomes one with the darkness, making detection nearly impossible.
Nightstalker's Howl: Instills fear into enemies, lowering their combat abilities.
Blood Pact: Strength increases the longer the battle drags on.
Leon's lips curled into a grin.
This was a monster of nightmares.
And now?
It was his.
---
A New Path Forward
Fenrir let out a soft growl, pressing its head against Leon's shoulder.
Leon chuckled, scratching behind the beast's ears.
"Looks like we'll be working together from now on."
A shift in the wind made him turn his head.
Somewhere deep in the jungle, another presence stirred.
One month remained before the players arrived.
And now, he had a true weapon at his side.
The world wasn't ready for what was coming.
---