The celebratory buzz of setting a new record on the Havenwood Obstacle Challenge still hummed in Eron's virtual bones. Even Blaze's furious scowl couldn't dim the glow. He'd shown them. They had shown them. Raiv, the F-rank wolf, was anything but a joke.
"That was amazing, Eron!" Lily bounced beside him, Fern, her little Forest Sprite, echoing her enthusiasm with happy chirps. "Your Raiv is super-duper fast! No one else got that time!"
"You and Fern helped too," Eron said, giving Lily a friendly nudge. "Fern's Evasion helped you navigate those obstacles perfectly." He meant it. Their teamwork in the Tangled Mire, and now here, was making them a formidable, if unusual, duo.
Raiv let out a soft woof of agreement, nudging Eron's hand. His tail, usually a barometer of his mood, now held a confident sway. The "Spirit of the Unbound" trait had truly made a difference, fueling his performance under pressure.
"So, what next?" Lily asked, her bright eyes scanning the bustling Havenwood Village. "Master Elara said we could check the Quest Board!"
"Sounds like a plan," Eron agreed, tucking his new gold and potions into his inventory. They were officially part of the village now, no longer just lost travelers.
The Quest Board was a massive oak slab near the center of the Market Square, covered with parchments and glowing holographic displays. Players milled around it, studying the quests, discussing strategies, and forming temporary teams.
Eron observed the players. A burly Mountaintop Grizzly lumbered past, its Tamer looking supremely confident, probably off to hunt something big. A small, nervous Glimmer-Winged Butterfly flitted around its Tamer, who seemed just as shy. There were players calling out for partners to hunt Ironhide Boars, or to gather rare Moonpetal Herbs. Some quests were simple fetch-tasks, others offered hefty rewards for defeating dangerous creatures in the deeper parts of the Wounded Fang Forest.
He spotted a familiar face: Borin, the large Tamer from the Guild Hall, chatting with a friend whose beast was a sleek, bright green Swamp Serpent. Borin gave Eron a friendly nod and a thumbs-up. It was nice to see that not everyone was like Blaze.
Just then, a voice, thick with a sneering condescension, cut through the general hum. "Look who it is. The 'speedsters.' Still pretending that flimsy little wolf can actually fight?"
Eron turned. It wasn't Blaze, but another player. This one was a tall, gangly man with a perpetual frown, his eyes narrow and disdainful. He wore heavily reinforced leather armor and stood beside a stocky, powerful Stone Golem Hound, its body made of rough, grey stone, its eyes glowing with a faint orange light.
[System Notice] – Detected: Tamer "Grimlock." Beast: Stone Golem Hound (Bronze Rank).
Grimlock. Eron remembered him from the Training Grounds. He'd been scoffing at the smaller beasts, bragging about his Golem Hound's defense.
"Last I checked, we just set a new record on the obstacle course," Eron replied, keeping his voice calm. Raiv let out a low, challenging growl, stepping slightly forward. Lily, however, instinctively edged closer to Eron, Fern hiding behind her leg.
"Obstacle course? That's for kids and their pet squirrels," Grimlock scoffed, his gaze sweeping dismissively over Raiv. "Real tamers train for combat. For defending themselves. You think that F-rank twig could defend anything from a real hit?" He patted his Stone Golem Hound, which grunted, a low, rumbling sound in its rocky chest. "My Golem Hound can take hits all day. Can yours?"
Eron's jaw tightened. It was the same old song, the same dismissal, just a different player. But it hit a nerve. His goal wasn't just to be fast; it was to be strong, to be capable of protecting himself and those he cared about.
"We can prove it," Eron said, a challenging glint in his eyes. He looked at the Quest Board again, and then saw it. A new quest had just been posted, a shining, bright green holographic parchment titled:
[Havenwood Guardian Trial: Crystal Defense!]
Objective: Protect the fragile Mana Crystal at the Training Grounds from simulated monster waves.
Challenge: Waves of Training Dummies and Constructs will attack. Survive all waves, keep the Crystal intact.
Reward: Experience, Havenwood Reputation, and a chance to unlock new Defensive Bond Traits!
"Defensive Bond Traits," Eron muttered. This was perfect. This was exactly what they needed to prove.
"You think you can protect something from my Golem Hound's kind of power?" Grimlock sneered, seeing what Eron was looking at. "That little wolf of yours is made for running, not standing. Don't waste your time, kid."
"Maybe your beast is just too slow to catch mine," Eron shot back, a spark of defiance in his eyes. "And mine just learned how to get stronger when people like you talk trash." He gave Raiv a confident smile.
Raiv let out a sharp bark, his tail giving a single, decisive wag. He seemed to relish the challenge. Lily looked from Grimlock to Eron, then nodded firmly. "We can do it, Eron! Fern and I will help!"
They registered for the Guardian Trial. The Guild Master NPC at the kiosk explained the rules: the Mana Crystal was a special object that would absorb damage meant for it, but only up to a certain point. If its health bar hit zero, they failed. The waves would get progressively harder.
They entered the designated trial area at the Training Grounds, a circular arena with a glowing, crystalline pillar in the center. Eron positioned himself and Raiv on one side, Lily and Fern on the other. Grimlock stood outside the arena, arms crossed, a smug look on his face.
"Alright, Raiv," Eron whispered, focusing his intent. "Mana Whisper for soothing, Echoing Roar and Mana Shockwave for stunning. But mainly, stay close to the crystal. Protect it."
Raiv nodded, his Mana Sense expanding to encompass the crystal, almost like a protective aura.
[System Notice] – Havenwood Guardian Trial initiated. Protect the Mana Crystal!
The first wave began. Simple wooden training dummies lumbered towards the crystal. "Raiv, Echoing Roar!" Eron commanded. Raiv barked, a concussive force rippling out, briefly stunning two dummies. Eron moved in, kicking them apart. Lily and Fern, meanwhile, darted around, Fern using its Instinctive Evasion to dodge, then snapping at the dummies' weak points.
The second wave brought faster, more agile constructs. Eron and Raiv worked in tandem, using Coordinated Strike on the tougher ones, while Lily and Fern zipped around, distracting others. Raiv even used Mana Whisper on a dummy that seemed to be charging particularly aggressively, subtly altering its path just enough for Eron to intercept it.
Grimlock scoffed from the sidelines. "Still just dodging and flailing. Let's see you handle something real."
Just as he spoke, the third wave emerged. These weren't dummies. They were Ironhide Constructs, small, heavily armored creatures made of metal and glowing red energy, designed for defense. They moved slowly, but their shells were incredibly tough. They were heading straight for the Mana Crystal.
[System Notice] – New Combatant Detected: Ironhide Construct (Bronze Rank). High Physical Defense.
[System Update!] – Your Tamer's Insight and previous combat experience have refined your defensive strategy.
[New System Rule Activated!] – [Defensive Focus Protocol]: Tamers can mentally direct their beasts to prioritize damage redirection and threat absorption for a short duration. Increases beast Endurance and reduces incoming damage for the Tamer or a designated object.
Eron's eyes widened. Defensive Focus Protocol! This was exactly what Grimlock had scoffed at!
"Raiv! Defensive Focus Protocol! Crystal defense!" Eron mentally commanded, projecting a clear image of Raiv shielding the crystal, his body becoming a bulwark.
Raiv let out a low, guttural growl. He didn't move to attack. Instead, he positioned himself directly in front of the Mana Crystal, his body tensing, his fur shimmering with a faint, almost impenetrable light. When an Ironhide Construct slammed into him, Raiv braced, absorbing the impact with surprising stability. The hit seemed to glance off him, causing minimal damage.
"Fern! Defensive Focus Protocol! Protect Lily!" Eron yelled, remembering Lily's cousin's story of Fern's timidity.
Lily, eyes wide, immediately responded. "Fern! Protect me!"
Fern, normally so skittish, zipped towards Lily, then hovered directly in front of her. When a stray construct swiped at Lily, Fern intercepted it, its delicate leafy body somehow deflecting the blow with a faint shimmer. It was incredible!
Grimlock stared, his jaw agape. "What? That F-rank twig just… blocked a hit?"
Eron grinned, feeling a surge of power. This was it. This was their strength. Raiv was tanking the hits on the crystal, allowing Eron to chip away at the constructs' weak points. Lily and Fern were a surprising defensive shield, keeping Lily safe.
They fought through the rest of the waves. Raiv, under the influence of Defensive Focus Protocol, became an unmovable object, absorbing blow after blow, his "Spirit of the Unbound" trait seemingly reinforcing his resolve with every hit he took for the crystal. Lily's Fern, empowered by the same protocol, became a tiny, nimble shield, intercepting attacks meant for Lily, its "Instinctive Evasion" allowing it to bob and weave even while absorbing hits.
Finally, the last Ironhide Construct crumbled. The arena fell silent, save for their heavy breathing. The Mana Crystal in the center still glowed brightly, its health bar almost full.
[System Notice] – Havenwood Guardian Trial Completed! Mana Crystal Integrity: 95%. Excellent!
[System Update!] – Tamer Eron and Tamer Lily have demonstrated superior defensive cooperation.
[New Trait Unlocked!] – Raiv: [Guardian's Resilience]: When activating Defensive Focus Protocol, Raiv gains greatly increased damage resistance and enhanced threat absorption. Scales with Endurance and Bond.
[New Trait Unlocked!] – Fern: [Symbiotic Shield]: When activating Defensive Focus Protocol, Fern can briefly generate a small, protective mana barrier around its Tamer, deflecting minor attacks. Scales with Evasion and Bond.
Eron looked at the new traits, then at Raiv, who nudged the crystal, then looked at him with gleaming eyes. And then at Lily, who was beaming, hugging Fern tightly. Even Fern was chirping excitedly, a small glow radiating from its leafy body.
Grimlock, outside the fence, stood absolutely speechless, his face a mask of utter disbelief. His Stone Golem Hound looked equally confused.
Eron just gave Grimlock a polite, but firm nod. "Guess F-ranks can stand their ground after all, huh?"
They had proven it. Not just their speed, but their defense, their resilience. They hadn't just passed a challenge; they'd unlocked new potential, growing stronger together. This village wasn't just a place to hide. It was a place to train, to grow, and to show everyone that sometimes, the weakest-looking creatures held the greatest power.
[System Notice] – Havenwood Village Reputation increased. New vendor services unlocked at the Market Square.
[System Update!] – Quest: Havenwood Guardian Trial completed. Rewards sent to inventory.
Eron checked his inventory. More gold, new crafting materials, and a mysterious "Tamer's Defensive Emblem." He looked at Raiv, then at Lily.