Crimson Fang

Chapter 21 — Crimson Fang

The roar echoed through the forest.

Aether moved quickly between the trees, following the sound.

Lyra kept pace beside him.

Nyx moved silently ahead.

The injured Crimson Fang Wolf followed behind them, despite the pain in its leg.

Aether glanced back.

"You're really not staying behind?"

The wolf gave a low growl.

Lyra smiled.

"I think that's a no."

Aether turned forward.

"Stubborn beast."

They soon reached the battlefield.

Three humans were surrounded by flames.

A massive beast stood before them.

It resembled a tiger, but its body was covered in thick black scales. Two curved horns extended from its forehead, and flames leaked from between its teeth.

[Origin Analysis activated.]

[Species: Blackhorn Flame Tiger]

[Rank: C]

[Attribute: Fire]

[Ability: Flame Claw]

[Ability: Blackhorn Charge]

[Ability: Inferno Roar]

[Potential: B]

[Threat Level: High]

One of the humans was already lying unconscious.

The other two were desperately defending themselves.

"Help!"

Aether didn't rush in.

He watched.

The Blackhorn Flame Tiger was stronger than them, but it wasn't attacking randomly.

It was protecting something.

Aether noticed a broken tree behind the tiger.

Underneath it was a small nest.

Three tiny eggs rested inside.

Aether understood immediately.

"It's protecting its nest."

Lyra looked at him.

"So the humans attacked its territory?"

"Looks like it."

One of the surviving humans shouted,

"Please! Help us!"

Aether didn't respond.

The man pointed toward the tiger.

"Kill it!"

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Aether looked at him.

"Why?"

The man froze.

"Because it's attacking us!"

"You entered its territory."

The man's expression changed.

"We needed its core!"

Aether shook his head.

"Then deal with the consequences."

Lyra looked at him but didn't argue.

The Blackhorn Flame Tiger suddenly roared.

Inferno Roar!

A wave of fire exploded outward.

The two humans were thrown backward.

Aether moved.

He grabbed one by the collar and pulled him away from the flames.

Lyra rescued the other.

Aether looked at them.

"Get out."

The men hesitated.

"But—"

"Now."

They ran.

The Blackhorn Flame Tiger watched them disappear.

Then it turned toward Aether.

Its flames grew stronger.

Aether raised his weapon.

"I didn't come for your nest."

The tiger growled.

Aether slowly stepped backward.

"Neither did she."

He pointed toward the Crimson Fang Wolf.

The injured wolf had entered the clearing.

The Blackhorn Flame Tiger's eyes immediately locked onto it.

Its flames surged.

The Crimson Fang Wolf lowered its body.

Aether's expression changed.

"So that's the real fight."

The two beasts stared at each other.

The Crimson Fang Wolf suddenly charged.

The Blackhorn Flame Tiger met it head-on.

BOOM!

Their bodies collided.

The Crimson Fang Wolf was thrown backward.

It landed heavily on the ground.

Its injured leg buckled.

Aether moved forward.

"Nyx."

Nyx understood immediately.

She rushed toward the tiger.

Golden energy gathered around her paws.

The tiger turned toward her.

Flames erupted.

Nyx jumped over the attack.

She landed on the tiger's back and struck its neck.

The tiger roared.

Lyra followed.

Lightning crashed down.

The Blackhorn Flame Tiger staggered.

Aether noticed something.

Its flames were weakening.

The battle had forced it to use too much energy.

"Lyra, keep pressuring its left side."

"Got it!"

Lightning struck again.

The tiger turned.

Aether rushed in from the opposite side.

His metal rod struck its front leg.

Crack!

The tiger stumbled.

But before Aether could attack again—

the Crimson Fang Wolf charged.

It bit down on the tiger's shoulder.

The system activated.

[Crimson Fang detected.]

[Ability effect: Energy penetration.]

The wolf's crimson fangs pierced through the tiger's scales.

The Blackhorn Flame Tiger roared.

Aether's eyes sharpened.

"So that's its ability."

The Crimson Fang Wolf released the tiger and jumped back.

The tiger's body suddenly began shaking.

The wound wasn't simply physical.

The Crimson Fang ability was interfering with its Origin Energy.

The tiger attempted to gather flames.

Nothing happened.

Aether immediately understood.

"Now!"

Lyra released everything she had.

A massive bolt of lightning struck the tiger.

Nyx attacked from the other side.

The Crimson Fang Wolf charged once more.

Three attacks landed together.

The Blackhorn Flame Tiger collapsed.

The clearing became quiet.

[Blackhorn Flame Tiger defeated.]

[+15 Origin Points]

[Origin Points: 165/150]

Aether looked at the system.

His eyes widened slightly.

"That was enough."

[Breakthrough Requirement: Reached]

[Current Cultivation: Origin Awakening — Stage 2]

[Next Stage: Stage 3]

[Breakthrough Available]

[Stabilization Required]

Aether closed the interface.

He wasn't going to advance yet.

The Crimson Fang Wolf stood over the fallen tiger.

It was breathing heavily.

Its injured leg was still bleeding.

Aether walked toward it.

The wolf immediately showed its teeth.

Aether stopped.

"I'm not taking your kill."

The wolf slowly lowered its head.

Aether crouched.

"You helped us."

The wolf looked at him.

Then at Nyx.

Nyx approached and sniffed the Crimson Fang Wolf.

This time, the wolf didn't growl.

The system appeared.

[Origin Beast interaction detected.]

[Relationship established.]

[Status: Temporary Alliance]

Aether smiled.

"Temporary alliance, huh?"

Lyra crossed her arms.

"Looks like it."

Aether looked at the wolf's injured leg.

"You're still hurt."

He took out another medicinal herb.

The wolf hesitated.

Then accepted it.

Its wound began closing slowly.

Aether stood.

"You should recover here."

The wolf stared at him.

Then it looked toward the forest.

After a moment, it walked away.

Aether watched it disappear between the trees.

Lyra asked,

"Do you think it'll come back?"

Aether looked at Nyx.

"Maybe."

Nyx's ears suddenly moved.

She looked toward the direction the wolf had disappeared.

Aether noticed.

"You think so too?"

Nyx gave a quiet sound.

Aether smiled.

Then the system appeared.

[New information detected.]

[Crimson Fang Wolf possesses a rare bloodline trait.]

[Potential mutation detected.]

[Bloodline evolution possibility: Confirmed.]

Aether's expression changed.

"So it can evolve."

Lyra looked at him.

"Into what?"

The system remained silent.

[Required conditions: Unknown.]

Aether stared toward the forest.

He didn't know what the Crimson Fang Wolf would eventually become.

But one thing was certain.

It wasn't an ordinary Rank D beast.

And neither was Nyx.

Aether looked at his Origin Points.

[Origin Points: 165/150]

He had reached the requirement for Stage 3.

But his next breakthrough would have to wait.

For now, there were more important questions.

Who was the Crimson Fang Wolf?

Why did it possess such a rare bloodline?

And how many other unusual beasts were hiding in this changing world?

Aether turned toward the forest.

"Let's find out."

Far away, between the trees—

two crimson eyes opened.

The wolf looked back toward Aether.

Then disappeared into the darkness.