Watching the red dots on her map drift closer to the road, Sam narrowed her eyes and silently told Tempy to prepare herself. Every rustle of leaves, every footstep outside her field of vision stood out like a spotlight. Her Perception stat hummed beneath her skin—part instinct, part interface—and it painted the battlefield before it even began.
"Well, well, what do we have here, boys?"
From the left, a tall, broad-shouldered man stepped from the tree line. A jagged scar ran from his ear to the corner of his mouth. His leather armor was cracked and greasy, just like the unwashed strands of black hair falling over his face. But it was the malice in his eyes that froze her—familiar, cold, and unmistakable. The same look Trevor's men wore. The look of someone who liked hurting others.
Five more followed behind him, weapons drawn. Most carried swords, but one had daggers, another an axe. Their gear was mismatched and worn, clearly scavenged over time. Another group of four emerged from the opposite side of the road, mirroring the first. Sloppy formation. Amateurs.
Tempy hissed, fur bristling, tiny arcs of lightning dancing from her claws to the dirt—just shy of the nearest man's boots. He yelped, startled, then snarled at the young Voltclaw. Sam smirked. That wasn't even a skill. Just Tempy's natural static reacting to her anger.
"I suggest you… gentlemen," Sam said, her voice smooth and clipped, "and I use that term loosely—turn around and walk back into those woods. Now."
They laughed. While they chuckled, Sam activated Inspect, confirming what she already suspected. Most of them were around Level 17–18, Orange Tier, with the scarred leader sitting at Level 18, Strength 25. Higher than hers, yes—but she was two tiers above, and her Strength 22 would hit harder regardless.
Without taking her eyes off them, she opened her inventory. A few accessories from recent hunts caught her attention—she hadn't examined them yet, but now was as good a time as any.
'Jarvis, anything useful from the loot drops? Can you equip them for me, or do I need to do it manually?'
{"Yes to both. You have a Pendant of Precision to enhance your attacks, a Pendant of Beasts that can affix to Tempy's collar for a temporary boost, and a Ring of Strength (+2 Strength). Shall I apply them?"}
'Yes.'
A warm glow lit up her hand and neck, mirrored on Tempy's collar.
'That'll give you a power boost, baby. Use it well.'
Sam stepped back to get both groups in her peripheral and slowly raised her sword.
Her Tempest Blade shimmered with faint teal light, the wind enchantment humming beneath the surface. It caught the air with each motion, generating just enough pressure to make her strikes unpredictable—and dangerous.
"I take it that's a no, then?"
"Oh, that's a definite no, darlin'," the leader sneered. "And for making us laugh, we'll even let you recover a bit after a few of us—"
Sam sighed. "Oh boy. You just said the wrong thing to me."
She manifested a pair of glowing Mana Hands. Her quiver dropped to the ground, and the hands nocked an arrow in her bow, hovering low and ready—aimed squarely at the most vulnerable targets.
She raised her sword.
"Let's dance."
Tempy didn't wait. Her rage pulsed down the bond between them. Before Sam finished speaking, the Voltclaw became a blur, Static Speed and Chain Dash turning her into a streak of blue lightning. She ricocheted from one man to another, teeth and claws glowing with crackling energy. Each strike dealt about 15 HP, her speed too great for them to track. A few collapsed outright, winded and shocked.
Sam wasn't idle. With her Mana Hands guiding her bow and her sword slashing at close threats, she split her focus with razor-edged precision. Perception made her seem almost prescient—she struck just before attacks landed, dodged a heartbeat before weapons swung.
Arrows lodged into thighs and knees. One man screamed, dropping his weapon as he fell.
The leader charged her with brute strength, and though his blows were heavy, Sam was faster. She danced just out of reach—until he drove her back toward the others.
But her movements were clean, precise. A pivot here, a half-step there. And her sword—her beautiful blade—lashed out with a crescent of compressed air. The shockwave caught one of the bandits mid-swing and flung him back five feet, winded.
Her Precision Pendant ensured every thrust found a weakness. Her Mana Hands continued firing like an arcane turret, punishing anyone who got too close.
Then—a roar.
It wasn't human.
Thunder rolled through the woods. Something massive was coming. Sam caught the coppery tang of blood on the wind just before thundering footfalls shook the ground.
She pivoted, dodging a wild strike, and shouted to Jarvis: 'Bow! Now!'
The Mana Hands obeyed, slinging her bow back into her grip. She tucked her arrows into her inventory for faster conjuring.
The beast crashed through the trees like a landslide. A bear, easily the size of a Mac truck, with eyes crackling with stormlight.
{Name: Thunderstorm Bear (M)
Level: 16
Rarity: Legendary
Tier: Red
HP: 500/500
Highest Stats: Vitality 50, Strength 35}
"Well, shit." Sam muttered. "Gonna need your help, Tempy!"
She loosed an arrow that struck the beast's shoulder. It roared, staggering—then the sky turned gray. Rain fell in sheets as lightning bolts rained down where Sam had stood moments before. She dove aside just in time.
Tempy shot in from behind, using Static Pounce to zap it across the back. The bear barely noticed.
Sam nocked another arrow—this one aimed at its eye. The shot struck true. The bear shrieked, its right eye gone, blood pouring.
Before she could draw another, thick green vines burst from the ground, coiling around its legs.
She didn't question it.
Bow gone, sword drawn, Sam rushed forward, leaping onto its trapped leg, barely out of reach of its snapping jaws. The vines yanked its head aside, buying her the moment she needed. She scrambled onto its back, gripping her blade in both hands.
With a war cry, she plunged her sword into the base of its skull.
A gust of wind exploded from the impact point, the Tempest Blade discharging its enchantment with a sharp shockwave. The bear's head snapped forward—and then went still.
{DING! You have slain a Level 16 Thunderstorm Bear.
+520 XP → XP sent to Beast Bank. Balance: 694xp}
The bear dissolved into shimmering mana, and Sam dropped—only to be caught by a nest of vines and gently lowered to the ground.
She blinked and turned.
A massive wolf stood nearby—dark brown and black, its fur shot through with moss and bark, its chest shielded by a barrier of woven roots. Her map showed no hostile dot.
Tempy padded up beside her, head tilted.
'Friend?' the Voltclaw asked.
Sam gave a slow nod. "I believe so."
The wolf inclined its head, then gestured behind her.
Turning, Sam saw the surviving bandits bound in vines, groaning and thoroughly defeated.
"Well, aren't you helpful," she said. "You wouldn't happen to be the wolf I helped earlier, would you?"
The wolf gave a quiet chuff and walked toward her. Sam didn't move. When it stopped, she offered her hand. The wolf sniffed once… then nudged her palm with her snout.
"Would you like to join my merry little band of misfits?"
The wolf made a soft sound—half-laugh, half-sigh—and leaned into her touch.
{A connection has been found between you and an unnamed Grove Warden Wolf. Emotional connection 100%, Would you like to add her to your Tame List?}
{Yes/No}
Smiling Sam said Yes.
{Beast Tames 4/4}
She removed her beast space pendant and explained what was would happen.
{Ding! Beast Tame: Grove Warden Wolf, has been attuned to your pendant.}
She brought the wolf back out and then opened the Tame list in her S.I.S.T.E.M.
{Name: Unnamed
Age: Adult
Species: Grove Warden Wolf
Level: 6
Rarity: Rare
Tier: Purple
Experience: 230/761
Health: 100/100
Mana: 100/100
Mana Control: 11
Mana Regen: 10mp/sec.
Stats:
Vitality: 10
Strength: 13
Wisdom: 10
Instinct: 11
Skills:
Active skills:
Root Snare LVL 2
Slams its paws into the ground, summoning roots to entangle nearby enemies.
Immobilizes 1–3 enemies for 2-3 seconds.
Mana cost: 21 | Cooldown: 11 seconds | Duration: 2 - 3 Seconds |
Range: 4 meters | Effect Boost: +5% increased hold resistance bypass
Verdant Howl LVL 1
Lets out a howl that invigorates plant life and allies. Restores minor HP over time to allies in range and buffs natural regeneration. Restores 2% of Max HP every 2 seconds for 6 seconds.
Mana cost: 25 | Cooldown: 20 seconds | Duration: 6 seconds HoT (Heal over time)
Range: 8 meters
Thornfang Pounce LVL 3
Leaps at the enemy with fangs and paws wreathed in brambles. Physical + Nature damage. Applies Bleed and Minor Poison if both hit. Applies Bleed (3 dmg/sec for 5 sec) if fangs hit. Minor Poison (2 dmg/sec for 6 sec) if claws connect.
Mana cost: 12 | Cooldown: 7 seconds | Leap Range: 5 meters |
Effect bonus: +10% to Bleed/Poison Duration
Overgrowth Surge LVL 2
Rapidly spreads moss, vines, and thorns in a short radius. Creates difficult terrain. Reduces enemy speed and weakens armor. Slows enemies by 25%, reduced Armor by 11%
Mana cost: 37 | Cooldown: 17 sec | Duration: 7 sec | Radius: 3 meters |
Effect Boost: +5% effect potency
Alpha of the Grove LVL 1
Temporarily takes on an empowered form—glowing eyes, bark-like fur, and enhanced abilities. Boosts speed, damage, and resistance by 15% . Can only be used once per battle (or with long cooldown).
Mana cost: 50 | Cooldown: Once per battle or 120 sec | Duration: 8 sec
Photosynth Shield LVL 1
Summons a barrier of leaves and light-infused bark. Absorbs damage equal to 10% Max HP or reflects 10% minor magic
Mana cost: 30 | Cooldown: 15 sec | Duration: 5 sec
Vine Lash LVL 3
Strikes from a distance using summoned vines. Nature-based ranged attack with a 25% chance to Disarm or Stagger.
Mana Cost: 17 | Cooldown: 8 sec | Duration: 2 sec | Range: 10 meters |
Effect Boost: +20% chance to disrupt if target is slowed or entangled
Passive skills
Floral Camouflage LVL 4
Harder to detect when standing in foliage, forested areas, or overgrown terrain. Grants stealth bonus or evasion boost.
Bond of the Wild LVL 3
Strength and agility increase when near trees or nature-rich terrain. Bonus stats scale with biome.
Bloomstep LVL 1
Wherever it runs, tiny flowers or moss briefly bloom. Cosmetic effect + small speed aura for allies following behind.
Predator's Patience LVL 2
Increases crit chance and damage against enemies that are slowed, stunned, or rooted.
Symbiotic Link LVL 1
While its tamer is injured or outnumbered, the wolf becomes more aggressive. Boosts attack and aggro toward threats targeting its bonded partner.
Nature's Endurance LVL 1
Poison, disease, and debuff resistance improved passively. Natural immunity to weak toxins and slows.}
{"That's quite the new ally you have, an excellent tank."}
"Hello" Sam says as the wolf comes closer to rub it's head against her. "Now what to name you…"
Growing up she always wanted a pet. If course the amount of work that goes into keeping them clashed with all the various activities her parents foisted on her. Plus her mother never wanted 'some dirty animal's in her home.
Being a bit of an overthinker she would contemplate pet ownership. You bought a creature. Sometimes taking them straight from their mother and siblings, and forced them to live and love you. Sure it may have been mutually beneficial, but to her it seemed like a version of Stockholm Syndrome.
Sam laughed.
This may not be a case of the same situation but she had her name. Syndrome. An odd name for sure, but being a bit of a wordsmith she knew the prefix syn- meant together.
"Syn, short for Syndrome. What do you think? Syn means together and… well I think drome means to run." Sam said pinching her chin with her fingers in a classic thinking pose.
'Together we run…yes I like this name.' The newly named Syn said.
"Excellent! Now let's bring these brigands to justice. But first loot!" Walking over to the pile of things, she looked at her haul. The typical things were there. With gigantic claws this time. As well as a ring, a pendant, new sword and a pair of leather boots of all things. Sending everything to her inventory, she telepathically told Sunblaze it was safe to come get them.
"Alright ladies, introductions are in order. Syn, this is Sunblaze, Ignite, Tempest and I'm Sam. Everybody, this is Syndrome or Syn for short. She's our newest family member and teammate." She turned around to the men that were now tied up and gagged.
"Syn, if you would, can you please get these men up and waking. Or at least stumbling. It's a long walk to the city."
Getting back up on the cart, Iggy sat in Sam's lap, her ember nap kicking in and slowly healing her wounds. While Syn lifted the men with her vines and got them on their feet. Sam used her mana hands to lift the dead men places them in the cart after some janga like maneuvering of her things. She sacrificed a blanket to cover them.
She then used the hands to, not so delicately, remove the arrows. Then asked Syn to to heal them just enough to get them to walk. Her mana hands picked up the dropped weapons and stashed them in the cart as well. Then they were off.
On to their next destination, their new home. Or so she thought.