Leon stood at the edge of a towering cliff, overlooking the vast wilderness that stretched beyond Valtor, the capital of the Western Continent.
The sun was beginning to set, casting a golden glow over the land. Below him, new players still struggled with basic monsters, their shouts of frustration echoing in the distance.
Leon ignored them.
His focus was elsewhere.
The Celestial Moon Panther lay beside him, its silver fur shimmering under the fading sunlight. Having just been tamed, it was still adjusting to its new master.
Leon placed a hand on its sleek head.
> "You'll get used to this soon. In time, you'll be stronger than you ever imagined."
The panther let out a low purr, acknowledging his words.
His beast army was growing stronger. But Leon knew he wasn't done yet.
---
The Final Grind Before the Players Arrive
Leon pulled up his status screen, analyzing his progress.
> [Leon Kaiser]
Level: 65
Class: Beast Tamer (Unique NPC)
Title: The Regressor, Beast Sovereign
Tamed Beasts:
Nyx, the Phantom Stalker (Epic - Level 72)
Celestial Moon Panther (Epic - Level 90)
Abyssal Serpent (Elite - Level 70)
Frostclaw Wolf (Rare - Level 69)
Thunderhorn Stag (Elite - Level 68)
Two-headed Shadow Hawk (Rare - Level 67)
> "A strong lineup… but not strong enough."
The game launch was mere days away, and once the players arrived, the entire world would shift.
> "I need to be stronger before that happens."
His target?
A massive dungeon located deep in the mountain range, one that held a creature even more powerful than the Celestial Moon Panther.
---
The Forgotten Ruins of Eldara
Leon traveled through the mountains for hours, his beasts running alongside him in perfect synchronization.
The ruins of Eldara were buried beneath the earth, forgotten by even the NPCs of this world.
But Leon knew the truth.
> "This place hides a beast that can rival even the strongest bosses in the game."
The moment he stepped into the ruins, a system notification appeared.
> [You have entered a Forbidden Zone: The Ruins of Eldara.]
[All creatures within this area are over Level 80.]
[Warning: This zone is not meant for players below Level 100.]
Leon grinned.
Another ridiculous level restriction. But like before, he had no intention of playing by the rules.
> "Come. Let's claim another legendary beast."
His beasts roared in unison, ready for the hunt to begin.
---