"Beast Lord System successfully bound."
Agrios lay there unable to move, unable to fully understand what he was seeing. A new window appeared in front of him.
"Skill Window."
Beneath the words was a single skill.
"Roar Of The Beast Lord."
Agrios forced his eyes downward and read the description beneath it. The ancient Beast Lord releases a roar that subdues all beasts who hear it. Another line appeared below it.
"Use skill?"
Agrios did not hesitate.
"Yes."
Time began moving again and the pain crashed into him all at once. Every wound returned at the same moment. His ribs burned, his lungs struggled for air, and blood filled his mouth as Agrios screamed. The Ironfang cubs lunged toward him, their jaws opening wide and their teeth flashing as they rushed to tear into him.
Then something deep inside Agrios moved. It felt ancient. It felt vast. A pressure rose in his chest and spread through his throat like a storm building inside him. His body trembled as the power forced its way out and when Agrios opened his mouth the sound that came out was inhuman.
A roar erupted from him, deep and thunderous, shaking the air around him. The sound rolled through the forest like a wave, ancient and commanding, as if the voice of something far different from man had spoken through him. The trees trembled and the ground seemed to hum beneath him. The Ironfang cubs froze in mid step. Their ears flattened against their heads and their eyes widened with sudden fear. One by one their legs gave out and the beasts collapsed onto the ground before they could even touch him.
Silence returned to the forest.
Agrios lay there gasping, his chest rising and falling as he stared at the unconscious beasts surrounding him. For the first time in his life the world had listened to him.
A new window slowly appeared before his eyes.
Servant Beasts Ironfang Wolf Rank: Superior Spirit Beast Obedience: 99 percent
Even though Agrios was shocked by everything that had just happened, it did not feel unnatural to him. The strange power flowing through his body felt familiar, almost comforting, as if something that had always belonged to him had finally awakened. It felt like destiny. The thought barely crossed his mind before darkness took him and he passed out from blood loss.
When Agrios woke again his vision was blurry and his entire body ached. Yet there was also a strange warmth around him, a comforting heat that made him feel as though he were wrapped in the softest blanket. His breathing steadied as his senses slowly returned and he tried to sit up.
A voice suddenly spoke beside him.
"Lord, have you risen?"
Agrios froze.
His mind struggled to understand what he had just heard. Slowly he wiped the sleep from his eyes and looked down at his body. His wounds had been wrapped in crude bandages made from strips of animal fur. When he lifted his head, his gaze met the golden eyes of the Ironfang Wolf watching him carefully.
"How can you speak?" Agrios asked in disbelief.
The wolf tilted its head slightly, almost confused by the question.
"How should I not be able to speak to my Lord?"
At that moment another window appeared before Agrios.
Skill Acquired, Beast Lords Tongue
Description: Communicate with beasts.
Agrios stared at the glowing words in silence, the weight of what had just happened slowly beginning to settle over him.
Agrios stared at the glowing words of the system for a long moment before the window slowly faded from his sight. His mind was still struggling to keep up with everything that had happened. Only a short time ago he had been thrown out of the sect like trash, left in the forest to be eaten by beasts. Now those same beasts lay quietly around him as if they were guarding him.
He slowly pushed himself up, wincing as pain shot through his ribs and feet. The Ironfang Wolf sitting beside him watched carefully but did not move. Its large body was covered in dark grey fur and its golden eyes followed his every movement with calm patience.
"You… treated my wounds?" Agrios asked quietly.
The wolf dipped its head slightly. "Of course, my Lord. we recognized your roar. We belong to you."
Agrios frowned slightly, still trying to understand. "Belong to me?"
The wolf lowered its head further, showing clear respect. "Yes. When the Beast Lord calls, beasts must answer. It is the law older than the forest."
Before Agrios could respond another window appeared before his eyes.
Servant Beast Available for Contract. Ironfang Wolf Rank: Superior Spirit Beast Obedience: 99 percent Contract Available
Agrios read the words slowly. His heart began to beat faster as he realized what it meant. This creature was not simply obeying him for the moment. The system was offering him something permanent.
The Ironfang Wolf seemed to sense his thoughts and lifted its head again. "My Lord, if you wish it, form the bond. I will hunt for you. I will fight for you. I will protect you."
Agrios looked at the wolf for several seconds. All his life he had been called weak. A burden. A useless disciple who would never rise beyond the lowest realm. Yet now a powerful spirit beast was bowing its head to him without hesitation.
Slowly he raised his hand.
"I accept."
The moment the words left his mouth a faint light appeared between them. Agrios felt something stir inside his chest, the same ancient presence he had felt when the roar escaped his throat. The light spread across the ground and wrapped around both of them before sinking into their bodies.
A new window appeared.
Contract Complete Servant Beast Bound Ironfang Wolf
At the same moment Agrios felt something new in his mind. It was faint but clear, like a second heartbeat that did not belong to him. Through it he could feel the wolf's presence, its strength, its calm loyalty, and the quiet pride it carried as a hunter of the forest.
The Ironfang Wolf lifted its head proudly.
"The bond is complete, my Lord."
Agrios looked at his hand, still trying to process the feeling of the connection. For the first time in his life, he was not alone.
Around them the forest remained quiet, but Agrios could not shake the feeling that something had begun the moment that bond formed.
Something far larger than the Golden Throne.
Something that had been waiting for him.
Agrios sat quietly for a moment, still feeling the strange connection in his mind. It was faint but clear, like a second presence resting beside his own thoughts. When he looked at the Ironfang Wolf again, the feeling grew stronger. He could sense its calm loyalty and steady strength.
The wolf watched him patiently.
"My Lord?" it asked softly.
Agrios took a slow breath. For the first time since he had been thrown from the sect, the fear inside his chest was fading. In its place was something new.
Control.
He studied the wolf carefully. Its dark fur moved gently in the wind and its golden eyes remained fixed on him with quiet respect. It had saved his life and treated his wounds without hesitation.
"You should have a name," Agrios said.
The wolf tilted its head slightly.
"A name?" it asked.
Agrios nodded slowly as he thought for a moment. The name came to him strangely easily.
"Eliana."
The wolf repeated it quietly. "Eliana."
Then she lowered her head.
"I will carry that name with honor, my Lord."
Agrios felt the bond between them grow warmer at her acceptance. The connection in his mind steadied, almost like a silent promise between them.
He slowly stood, though his body still ached. Around them the unconscious Ironfang cubs were beginning to stir.
Agrios looked at them, then back at Eliana.
"Can they be trusted?" he asked.
Eliana glanced at the young wolves before answering. "They felt the roar of the Beast Lord. They will not harm you. But they are wild. They need a leader."
Agrios was quiet for a moment before speaking again.
"Then wake them."
Eliana immediately rose to her feet and let out a low growl that rolled across the clearing. The cubs stirred and slowly lifted their heads, their eyes immediately turning toward Agrios.
None of them growled.
None of them attacked.
Instead they lowered their heads.
Agrios looked over the small pack, still amazed.
For the first time in his life, something powerful stood at his side.
And it obeyed him.
Then the system appeared again.
A sharp flash of light filled his vision and a window forced itself in front of his eyes.
New Quest Issued
Agrios blinked in surprise as the words formed.
Quest: Authority of the Beast Lord
Objective: Hunt and kill one High rank Spirit Beast.
Reward: System Growth
Punishment: Death
Agrios froze.
"Death?" he whispered.
Another line appeared beneath the quest.
Time Limit: 24 Hours
His stomach dropped. He had barely survived the Ironfangs. His ribs still throbbed and his body was weak from blood loss. And now the system expected him to hunt something even stronger.
Eliana noticed the tension in his body and stepped closer.
"My Lord?"
Agrios swallowed and spoke quietly.
"The system gave me a quest."
Eliana waited.
"It says I have to hunt a High rank Spirit Beast."
The wolf went still.
The forest seemed to grow heavier around them.
Slowly Eliana turned her head toward the deeper part of the Styx Forest, where the trees grew thicker and the darkness swallowed the path ahead.
"My Lord," she said quietly.
"There is already one living in this part of the forest."
Agrios felt the weight of those words sink into his chest.
Before he could respond the system window pulsed again.
Quest Active
Time Remaining: 23:59:58
The numbers began to fall.
23:59:57
23:59:56
Agrios looked into the endless darkness of the Styx Forest.
And realized that before this night ended, he would either become stronger...
or die in the forest he had just entered.