Chapter 18: Rare Beasts

Chapter 18: Rare BeastsThe morning sun filtered gently through the towering trees, casting a golden glow across the forest.

Dew glistened on every leaf, and under one particularly large leaf, something small was moving. A tiny creature, no bigger than a football, with white fur and an almost comically perfect bowl cut, was swatting at the leaf like a playful kitten.

A blue head shrooms on its head made it looks like a bowl cut, twitching with every movement, and its large round eyes glistened with innocent curiosity.

It squeaked and hopped in place, spinning in circles and rolling around, as if the entire world was just a playground for it.

Eratz, watching from a distance, felt his heart melt.

"What... are you?" he whispered to himself before approaching slowly, crouching down beside the creature.

The little monster looked up at him, its eyes sparkling like it had just found a new friend.

Without a second thought, it hopped right into Eratz's outstretched hands, snuggling against his chest as if it had always belonged there.

Eratz grinned wide, his face softening as he gently cradled the creature.

"You're... adorable," he whispered, his voice resonating with a new tone.

The little creature let out a soft, high-pitched noise, nibbling on his sleeve like a baby would on a blanket.

From behind them, the Thunder Lycaon sat lazily, watching the scene unfold with a pair of piercing yellow eyes.

It let out a low growl, the sound carrying just enough sarcasm to make its feelings clear. Eratz glanced over and caught the Lycaon's mocking gaze.

"Don't give me that look," he sighed, but still smiling. "I've been in this forest for a whole day; I'm allowed to go soft on something this cute. Maybe I'm just going insane."

The Lycaon's tail swished once, its mouth curling into what could only be described as a wolfish smirk.

Eratz glanced down at the little creature in his arms, now dozing off peacefully, completely unaware of the silent conversation happening between its new caretaker and the amused wolf beast.

"Yeah, yeah. Laugh all you want."

He was so enchanted by the creature's cuteness that he forgot his usual routine of checking a monster's stats.

He had never seen something so small and harmless in this part of the forest. But today was supposed to be his day to hunt, and he still had work to do.

With a soft chuckle, he gently tucked the little creature into his cloak, where it nestled like a baby in a cradle, before giving the Thunder Lycaon a knowing look.

"Alright, ready to go?"

The Lycaon immediately jumped to its feet, its fur crackling with energy.

They set off together, running side by side. The bond between them had grown so strong that they no longer needed words. It was instinctual.

As they dashed through the forest, they moved in perfect synchronicity, their movements fluid and precise.

A rustling in the bushes ahead alerted them to their first prey, a large rabbit-like creature with long, sharp claws.

The Thunder Lycaon leaped forward, lightning crackling around its body, but Eratz was already a step ahead.

He summoned a flame javelin in his hand and threw it forward, striking the creature before neutralizing it with his thunder punch, and then the beast fell and disappeared in his shadow. The two exchanged a glance, both of them grinning. This hunt wasn't just about survival anymore, it was a competition.

"One for me," Eratz teased, stroking the baby monster nestled in his cloak, as if showing off to his tiny companion.

The Lycaon growled, its eyes narrowing in playful challenge. The next moment, they were off again, chasing down more prey.

It became a game, each trying to surpass the other, acting like a perfect, but with a competitive edge.

One by one, they took down goblin-like creatures, large birds, and other monsters, each time trying to claim the next victory.

But as they ventured deeper into the forest, Eratz felt something shift. His instincts, honed from training, tingled with a familiar sense of danger.

"Hold up," Eratz whispered, raising a hand. The Lycaon slowed, its hackles raised.

Following the strange pull in his chest, Eratz led them to a cavern hidden among the rocks and vines.

The entrance was narrow, but as they pushed through, the air grew heavier.

As they ventured deeper into the cave, the air grew heavy, almost suffocating. The walls, narrow and tight, opened into a wide chamber.

Darkness wrapped around them, but a faint glow, coming from the center of the cavern, illuminated what lay ahead.

And there it stood.

A towering figure, hunched yet powerful, its black scales shimmering like polished stone under the faint light.

The creature, standing on two muscular legs, its broad, clawed hands gripping the cavern floor, glared at them with fiery amber eyes.

Each breath it took made the dust fly away.

It was a dragon, but not just any dragon this one radiated an energy far beyond the usual

creatures Eratz had encountered.

[Name: Terrakrus

Affinity: Dragon/Soil

Rank: Rare

Ability: Rockbound Fury]

Eratz's heart raced. His mind was blurring. He needed this beast. It was unlike anything he

had faced before, its mere presence sent a thrill down his spine.

The dragon's aura of strength, its raw power, felt almost insurmountable, the ability was unique, but that only made Eratz want it more.

"Lycaon, ready?" Eratz whispered, his voice barely audible.

The Thunder Lycaon let out a low growl, its yellow eyes locked on the dragon. The tension in the air was palpable.

Without warning, the Terrakrus roared, shaking the cavern. Eratz and his Lycaon sprang into

action.

The wolf-like beast charged forward, its claws crackling with electricity as it launched a slash infused with lightning at the dragon, but the attack barely grazed its tough, stone-like scales. The dragon barely flinched, its eyes narrowing.

Eratz followed up, summoning flames and thunder from his palms and sending them hurtling toward the beast through his flash series of attacks. S~eaʀᴄh the nôvelFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

The fire and lightning collided with the Terrakrus, but once again, it only seemed to fuel the creature's power. Every hit, every blow only made it stronger.

Its scales shimmered brighter, and its movements grew faster, more deliberate.

The ground shook as the dragon stomped forward, swiping at the Thunder Lycaon with a

heavy, clawed hand.

Lycaon barely dodged, rolling to the side as rocks from the ceiling began to fall around them. The cavern was coming apart under the dragon's growing strength. Eratz's heart pounded in his chest. He gritted his teeth, unwilling to give up.

"Shit... stronger than him? We're not done yet!" he shouted, summoning his army of beasts, Vulpans, insectoids, and wolves, all rushing the Terrakrus at once.

The dragon snarled, its tail lashing out and sending several of them flying across the cavern. It unleashed a roar that shook the entire cave, sending a shockwave that rattled Eratz's bones.

His monsters weren't strong against the monsters from this forest, they couldn't withstand the sheer force of the Terrakrus.

He had summoned them only to exhaust the dragon, but they were only delaying the

inevitable.

And then, with a heavy stomp, the dragon brought down its foot, sending cracks through the ground. The cavern shuddered, rocks breaking loose from above. The ceiling began to

collapse in on itself.

Eratz froze, his mind racing. The dragon was strong, too strong, but if the cavern caved in, the Terrakrus would be trapped beneath the rubble. This beast, this incredible creature, would be

buried alive.

"No!" Eratz shouted, rushing forward as stones began to fall around them.

He had to save it. He couldn't let this beast, this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, be lost

forever.

Thunder Lycaon leaped back to his side, barely dodging the falling debris, its fur still

crackling with energy.

But Eratz didn't stop. He fought through the crumbling cave, using punches to blast away

boulders as they came crashing down.

The Terrakrus continued to stand its ground, roaring in defiance.

"Move, damn it!" Eratz growled, his voice strained as he threw himself at the falling rocks,

trying desperately to clear a path for the dragon.

His body ached from the exertion, but he couldn't give up. Not now.

The cave continued to collapse around them, the entrance narrowing as more and more

boulders tumbled down.

The Terrakrus let out a final roar, swinging its massive claws at the falling rocks in a futile attempt to free itself, but it was no use. The cave was going to bury them all.

Eratz's breath was ragged. He could see the entrance closing up, and the dragon standing

there, its amber eyes filled with rage. The ceiling was about to come down entirely, trapping

them both.

But then, just as the final stone began to fall, the tiny creature in Eratz's arms let out a

piercing cry.

A brilliant flash of light engulfed the cavern. Everything around Eratz turned white, so bright

that he couldn't see anything. He felt weightless, as if the world had been pulled out from

beneath his feet.

And then... silence.

When Eratz opened his eyes, he was lying in a stream. The cool water flowed around him, and the sound of the forest echoed in his ears. He sat up, dazed and disoriented.

His heart sank as the realization hit him. The dragon, the Terrakrus, it was gone. He had lost

it. The cavern had collapsed, and he had been teleported out, leaving the rare creature trapped

beneath the rubble.

"No..." he whispered, his voice filled with frustration. His chest tightened. He had been so

close.

So close to capturing something extraordinary, and now it was lost forever.

But as he rubbed his face, he heard the sound of water splashing nearby. Slowly, he turned his

head.

Standing in the shallow water, her body half-submerged but unmistakably visible, was a girl. Her skin glistened in the sunlight, and her short, wet hair clung to her shoulders. She was completely naked, her body standing above the waterline.

For a moment, neither of them moved, both locked in stunned silence.