The Shadow Stalker's roar echoed through the now-cramped labyrinth chamber, jolting Toru into action. He'd been momentarily stunned, unable to process the rapid turn of events. Barely a minute ago, he'd tamed a 'Shadow Shard' and acquired a mysterious mask, but now he faced a far more formidable foe. Beside him, Nyx hissed softly, the Umbra energy around it pulsing stronger than before.
"Toru, we need to move fast!" Nyx's telepathic voice urged. "Creatures like this will hunt us. You must use your power—combine that Lumin and Umbra! Remember, balance is key."
Toru nodded, his focus returning to the enemy before him. He felt the energy flowing within him—the unique blend of Lumin and Umbra, now stronger after taming Nyx and the Shadow Shard. He recalled Nyx's words about 'Primordial power'. He gripped the obsidian mask tightly in his left hand, while his right, glowing faintly with a unique dark sigil, was raised.
"Alright, Nyx," Toru replied, his voice slightly muffled by the mask he now held. "I'll try."
He closed his eyes, trying to feel the energy that now felt clearer, amplified by the mask. He sensed the Lumin from the crystals in the ceiling and the potent Umbra from the stone walls. Then, he felt the unique balance of Lumin and Umbra within himself—now more potent after taming Nyx and the Shadow Shard.
Ting!
[System Notification]
Prime Taming Activated.
Target: Shadow Beast (Low Tier)
Initiating Bond Attempt...
Toru's right hand began to glow with a soft silver light, a faint Lumin aura emanating from it. But surprisingly, from the back of his hand, a dark sigil pulsed with Umbra energy—as if a part of himself was responding to the Umbra of the beast before him.
"What… is this?" Toru murmured.
Nyx chirped, "It's part of you, Toru. Your Primordial power."
Toru took a breath and dared. He extended his glowing hand towards the nearest shadow creature. Instead of a spell or a direct attack, he focused on the sensation of "reaching out" and "connecting." He pictured that wild Umbra energy being soothed, harmonized, and then accepted.
Woosh!
A wave of energy, a blend of calming Lumin and binding Umbra, shot from Toru's hand. The shadow creature roared, seeming to writhe in pain for a moment, then... stopped. It didn't die; it wasn't destroyed. Instead, its shadowy form coalesced, slowly transforming into a dark crystal shard that pulsed faintly.
Ting!
[System Notification]
Target Tamed Successfully.
New Partner Acquired: Shadow Shard (Elemental Umbra)
Bond Level: E
Reward: EXP +200, Taming Potion x1
Toru gasped. He had just tamed the creature. He could feel its presence, a quiet Umbra echo now bound to him, just like Nyx. He looked at his glowing right hand, then at Nyx.
"You said... 'we have to be together'..." Toru asked, his gaze full of questions.
Nyx nuzzled against Toru's leg, purring softly. "Of course. You are the Prime Binder. I, and perhaps others, will always be with you. This is your destiny. This is the true 'Legacy of the Tamer'."
As Toru nodded, trying to comprehend the words, the labyrinth began to shake again. This time, it wasn't just a tremor. The stone walls shifted, forming more complex structures, and powerful auras of Lumin and Umbra began to fill the chamber. It seemed this was only the beginning of the true 'Trial Zone'.
Suddenly, a guttural roar echoed from another corridor. A large creature, a terrifying blend of wolf and shadow with blazing red eyes, burst into the chamber. It was far more powerful than the Shadow Beasts they had encountered.
"That's a... 'Shadow Stalker'!" Nyx yelped. "Its level is much higher! Toru, prepare yourself!"
Toru felt his heart pound. He clutched the obsidian mask tightly in his left hand, then looked at Nyx with renewed determination. This wasn't just a trial anymore. This was the beginning of his journey.
Then, the ground beneath them erupted. A blinding golden light surged from above, and a fiery figure landed precisely between Toru and the charging Shadow Stalker. A woman with vibrant, fiery red hair and glowing golden eyes appeared, smiling with unbound energy.
"Hold on there, scary monster!" she exclaimed cheerfully. "You're interrupting my fun of burning things!"
WHOOSH!
A ball of intense flame shot from her hand, striking the Shadow Stalker with immense force. The creature roared in pain and was thrown against the wall, while the woman landed gracefully before Toru, her gaze fixed on him with unmistakable admiration.
"My name is Aurora Ignis!" she announced brightly, her glowing eyes locking onto Toru. "I guess you're Toru Ashworth? You have this… interesting energy about you. I felt drawn to help, somehow."
Toru stood speechless, his eyes fixed on the woman who had just appeared. A powerful Lumin aura radiated from her, enveloping them with a warmth he had never felt before. He could feel that energy—pure Lumin, yet holding immense power. He still held the obsidian mask, but now he sensed something else, something profoundly different, that had the potential to be bound to him. Was this… the destiny Nyx had spoken of? Could this be the start of something more?
Meanwhile, behind them, the Shadow Shard Toru had just tamed began to glow faintly, absorbing the residual Umbra energy released from the battle, as if sensing this new, potent energy.