Chapter 3: The Maiden in Chains
The second howl tore through the mountains, sharp and bone-chilling. Arjun's blood froze. He wasn't imagining it there were multiple voices this time. More wolves.
He gripped his sword tighter, forcing himself to breathe. His body ached from the first battle, but adrenaline kept him standing. The timer in his vision mocked him:
[Time Remaining: 23 hours, 12 minutes.]
"Great… one wolf nearly killed me, and now there's more? How the hell am I supposed to last a whole day like this?" Arjun muttered bitterly.
Then something new appeared in his vision a small golden notification flickering faintly in the air.
[Side Quest Triggered: Rescue the Captive.]
Objective: A maiden has been imprisoned by beasts in the nearby forest. Rescue her to gain System rewards.
Reward: Bond Formation (First Harem Link).
Failure: Maiden dies. Host loses Charm Value.
Arjun blinked. "Wait… maiden? Bond formation? Harem link? Are you serious right now?"
The system, as usual, ignored his confusion. The notification pulsed until Arjun sighed and rubbed his temples.
"Of course. Of course my so-called Eternal Harem System wouldn't wait even one day before throwing a girl into the mix. Typical."
Still, the word "rewards" pulled at him. Bond Formation sounded important maybe even essential. And if someone really was imprisoned by monsters, he couldn't just ignore it.
He took a deep breath, glanced at his timer, and muttered, "Fine. Let's see if this maiden actually exists."
The narrow mountain path led him down into the forest. The trees were towering, their branches thick and twisted like giant claws. Strange glowing flowers lit the ground, casting an eerie blue light that made the shadows even darker.
Every step crunched against fallen leaves, and every sound made him flinch. The howls had grown quieter, but that only made him more nervous. The silence of predators.
Then he heard it a faint cry. A girl's voice.
Arjun froze, heart thumping. "No way… it's real?"
He crept closer, sword raised. The sound grew clearer: muffled sobs, the clinking of chains, and low growls. He crouched behind a bush and peeked out.
In a small clearing, illuminated by the glowing flowers, stood a broken stone pillar. Around it prowled two wolves, smaller than the one he had fought earlier, but still larger than normal animals. Their eyes glowed faintly red, and their jaws dripped with saliva.
And chained to the pillar was a girl.
Arjun's breath caught. She looked young, maybe around his age, with long black hair that shimmered faintly under the eerie light. Her clothes were torn, revealing bruises on her arms and legs, and her wrists were bound by glowing chains etched with strange runes. Despite her ragged state, her beauty was undeniable delicate features, clear skin, and eyes that still glimmered with stubborn strength even as tears streaked her cheeks.
Arjun whispered under his breath. "She's… real."
The system chimed coldly:
[Target Identified: Maiden of Azure Chains. Potential Bond Candidate.]
[Warning: Failure to act will result in target's death within 30 minutes.]
Arjun swore under his breath. "So I don't even have the option to ignore this, huh?"
He studied the two wolves. They were smaller, but fighting two at once? His arms still ached from the first battle. He only had three healing elixirs.
"Think, Arjun. You're not strong… but maybe you can be smart."
He grabbed a loose rock from the ground and tossed it into the bushes far to the right. The stone crashed through leaves with a loud rustle. Both wolves immediately snapped their heads toward the sound, growling. One of them prowled away to investigate, leaving only one guarding the girl.
Arjun grinned nervously. "Okay… half the problem solved."
He crept closer, trying to stay quiet. But just as he stepped forward, a twig snapped under his boot.
The remaining wolf's ears perked. Its glowing eyes turned directly toward him.
"Damn it!" Arjun hissed, raising his sword.
The wolf lunged. Arjun ducked under its leap and slashed upward. The blade tore across its belly, spraying black blood. The beast yelped but didn't fall it spun around, snarling, and pounced again.
Arjun sidestepped clumsily, almost tripping, and rammed his sword forward. This time the blade pierced the wolf's chest. The beast howled, thrashed, and dissolved into mist.
Arjun panted, leaning on his sword. "Two down… one to go."
But before he could recover, the second wolf returned, eyes blazing with rage. It had noticed the fight.
Arjun's legs trembled. His arms felt like lead. He knew he couldn't take another direct hit.
The wolf charged.
"Damn it all!" Arjun shouted, pulling a healing elixir from his pocket and downing it in one gulp. Warmth spread through his body, numbing his pain. Strength returned just enough.
He braced himself as the wolf leapt. With a desperate roar, Arjun slashed upward with all his strength. The blade carved through the beast's throat in a spray of black mist. The wolf hit the ground with a heavy thud before dissolving.
Arjun collapsed to his knees, gasping. His whole body shook, sweat dripping down his face. "I… I actually did it."
The system chimed again:
[Enemies defeated. Reward: 100 System Points.]
[Side Quest Progress: Rescue the Captive.]
Arjun looked up. The girl was staring at him, wide-eyed, her lips trembling.
"You…" she whispered softly, her voice hoarse. "You killed them…"
Arjun forced himself to stand, wobbling slightly. He approached cautiously, sword still in hand, though his arms screamed for rest.
"It's okay," he said quietly. "I'm not here to hurt you."
The chains glowed faintly as he touched them. A system message appeared:
[Special Interaction Available: Break Azure Chains. Cost: 50 System Points.]
Arjun groaned. "So nothing is free in this world, huh?"
Still, he confirmed the choice. His System Points dropped, and the chains dissolved into glowing dust, freeing her wrists.
The girl collapsed forward, and Arjun quickly caught her. Her body was light but trembling, her skin warm against his arm.
"T-thank you…" she whispered weakly, looking up at him with tear-filled eyes.
Arjun froze, his heart skipping a beat. Up close, her beauty felt almost unreal. Even bruised and exhausted, she was breathtaking.
The system chimed once more:
[Bond Formation Complete.]
[First Harem Link established: Maiden of Azure Chains.]
[Ability Unlocked: Bond Skill – Shared Vitality.]
Arjun blinked. "Wait… harem link? Shared vitality? What the hell does that mean?"
The voice explained calmly:
[Through Bond Formation, the Host shares strength and energy with bonded companions. Their growth is tied to yours. Protect them, and they will aid you. Neglect them, and your power will weaken.]
Arjun stared at the glowing message, then back at the girl in his arms. She was already asleep, exhaustion claiming her now that the danger had passed.
He sighed, adjusting her weight gently. "So this is it, huh? My first… harem member." He laughed weakly. "God, if my roommates back home could see me now, they'd never believe it."
The timer flashed in his vision again.
[Time Remaining: 22 hours, 33 minutes.]
Arjun looked around at the eerie forest, then at the fragile girl he had rescued. His determination hardened.
"Fine. I'll keep you safe. Both because I have to… and because I want to."
He tightened his grip on the sword, carrying her away from the clearing as the forest whispered with hidden dangers.
The night was far from over.