We started walking, guided by the faint blue map hovering before us. It wasn't just a static display, it functioned like a real navigation system, showing routes, terrain, and even distances in real time.
The glowing path ahead pointed toward the nearest town, a place marked with a small green icon on the map. It wasn't far, maybe a couple of miles ,but according to the display, we were also close to a dense forest.
That worried me.
[Forests are unregistered zones filled with different kind of creatures.]
Sasha murmured, glancing at the shifting lights of the holographic map. " Than it could be dangerous."
"Exactly," I said. "If something happens there, no one will know."
So we decided to stay clear of the forest and move toward the town instead. The breeze carried a faint scent of moss and damp soil as we followed the glowing trail, our steps cautious but steady.
While we walked, I asked the system a few questions. That's when I learned something strange.
Apparently, my system had already created my mana core automatically, without me even realizing it. Sasha's system had done the same for her.
However, our progression worked differently.
[The host and companion's strength and Rank advancement are directly tied to the completion of assigned quests,] the system explained. [Only through fulfilling these missions can growth and evolution occur.]
And before long, Sasha received her first quest from her own system.
[Quest: Maintain a cover identity with the Binding Host and act. Objective — Pretend to be childhood friends.]
[Condition: No one must suspect your true identity until the barrier is exited.]
[Failure: Quest immediately fails.]
I stared at her, stunned. "Childhood friends?"
Sasha blinked at the glowing message before her, confusion flickering in her blue eyes. "Yeah… it says I have to act like we've known each other since we were kids. Until we leave the barrier."
I frowned. "That's… oddly specific. Just childhood friends?"
She nodded slowly. "That's what it says. My system even emphasized it, no romantic attachment, just familiarity and trust."
When I asked my own system about it, the response came instantly but offered no real explanation.
[The Binding System is not linked to the Companion's Quest Network. The purpose and reasoning behind her quests remain unknown.]
So even my system didn't know why. But it did confirm one thing, Sasha's power, like mine, could only grow through completing her assigned quests.
Each successful mission would strengthen her core and increase her Rank. As her strength increases, I will gain 20 percent of her power, without causing her any loss.
We continued walking, silent and uneasy, the faint hum of mana in the air the only sound between us. Then...
Rooooar!
A deep, guttural roar tore through the silence.
It was loud, raw, and close, so close it felt like the ground itself trembled beneath us.
We froze for a moment. My pulse spiked, and I saw Sasha's hand twitch toward mine.
The roar came again, lower this time, followed by the sound of heavy steps crushing the grass.
"Run," I whispered.
And we did.
I grabbed Sasha's hand and sprinted, the wind slapping against our faces as we ran away from the treeline.
The map flickered with red warnings,
[Zypherion Rank 1 beast Detected] and my heart pounded faster.
According to my calculations, the nearest town was only 10 to fifteen minutes away if we kept running at full speed. We just had to make it that far.
But then I looked back and shocked to my core.
A beast was charging toward us.
It moved on four legs, its speed terrifyingly fast, covering ground like a blur of motion. It was huge, at least six or seven feet tall at the shoulder.
Its body was striped like a zebra's, but its head was that of a lion, its eyes burning with golden fury. Flames curled around its tail, flickering like a living torch as it bounded after us.
A hybrid, a predator born from lion, zebra and fire.
Sasha screamed, and I tightened my grip on her hand.
"Don't stop!" I shouted, my voice hoarse.
The creature was closing the distance, maybe only a few hundred meters away now. The sound of its claws tearing into the earth grew louder with every heartbeat.
We ran faster, lungs burning, the cold wind slicing against our faces, as death itself chased us through the plains toward the faint, shimmering outline of the distant town.
We ran, hearts hammering, the roar of the beast echoing in our ears. The town lay ahead, shimmering faintly in the distance, but the creature behind us closed the gap with terrifying speed.
Then, out of the corner of my eye, I saw movement, something charging out of the forest.
A cart, drawn by a massive horse-like creature, thundered across the plains, moving with impossible speed. The driver of the cart was clearly pursuing the same beast that chased us.
As we watched, stunned, a man leapt from the cart. He shot into the air like a rocket, propelled by some unseen force. Sunlight caught his massive sword, turning it into a blazing beam of light. He hung suspended for a heartbeat, then descended toward the hybrid predator with terrifying precision.
The wind screamed past him as he swung the sword in a deadly arc. The blade struck the beast with unimaginable force, sinking deep into its body. The impact shook the ground, sending a tremor rippling through the earth. Grass and soil erupted outward from the point of contact, and the raw power of the strike whipped the air around us. Blood gushed from the wound, streaming across the plains like a scarlet river.
The beast let out a final, agonized roar before collapsing, shaking the ground as it hit. For a moment, silence fell over the plains, broken only by our ragged breaths and the faint hum of mana in the air.
Sasha and I froze, staring in disbelief at the man who had just saved our lives. His sword still glimmered in the sunlight, and his eyes burned with a calm intensity that made the air around him feel heavier, charged with raw power.
The hybrid predator lay defeated at his feet, a mixture of fire, stripes, and feral fury now extinguished.
We slowed, hearts pounding, as he landed gracefully, sword in hand, the tremor from his strike still vibrating through the ground beneath us.
The plains fell into a stunned hush, the only sound the wet drip of blood pooling beneath the beast's corpse and the faint crackle of dying flames licking at its tail.
My lungs burned; Sasha's hand was slick with sweat in mine. The man, looks like gorilla size, straightened from his crouch, flicking a ribbon of crimson from the edge of his sword. Sunlight slid along the steel like liquid gold before he sheathed it across his back with a soft *shnk*.
He was tall, easily six and a half feet, with broad shoulders that seemed almost massive enough to block the sun behind him. His black hair was short and windswept, and he looked young, maybe around twenty.
His sleeveless tunic, midnight blue with silver trimming, stretched over a chest built from years of swinging that enormous sword. Leather bracers covered his forearms, and a crimson half-cape flapped in the breeze.
Every part of him screamed warrior, his body bulky and muscular, almost like a gorilla's. Yet despite his strength, his grin was easy and almost boyish.
"Close call," he rumbled, voice like gravel rolling downhill. "You two alright?"
Sasha found her voice first, though it trembled. "We—yes. Thank you. If you hadn't…"
I stepped forward, releasing her hand to offer mine. " I am Chris . This is Sasha. We owe you our lives."
Garron clasped my forearm, his grip was powerful enough to crush stone, yet surprisingly gentle. "Garron Vale," he said with a grin, showing a chipped canine. "It's okay. Happy to help."
A sharp clip-clop of hooves announced the arrival of the cart. The creature pulling it wasn't a horse: its slate-gray hide gleamed in the sun, a spiraled horn jutted from its brow, and steam curled from its flared nostrils.
The cart, its wheels towering nearly as high as my waist,t came to a halt, announcing its presence with authority.
The door swung open.
She stepped down slow, like she knew every eye was on her and didn't give a damn. Black hair fell in thick, shiny waves to her ass, held back by two little silver ravens.
Behind thin glasses, cold gray eyes checked us out without blinking. Skin pale as milk, lips soft purple.
The dress hugged her body like it was painted on: dark blue velvet, laced tight at the waist, pushing her tits up high and round. Sleeves cut open to show white fabric with silver runes. High collar around her long neck; skirt slit up one thigh, showing smooth skin above black boots laced tight. A thin belt sat low on her hips, little bottles and bags clinking when she moved.
She was all cool and sexy at once: full tits, tiny waist, hips that swayed like she was teasing but would never let you touch.
Stood straight, chin up, one hand on the cart, looking like a hot teacher who knew exactly what you wanted and didn't care.
"I am Kyra. We were hunting this one," the woman said. "It bolted from the forest when we tried a sneak attack, but my brother scared it, and it ran straight toward you."
Kyra pushed her glasses up the bridge of her nose with one finger. "My apologies," she added, her voice crisp and precise, each word measured.
"Garron's… gorilla impression was supposed to flush it into our trap. Instead, it ran straight at you."
Sasha blinked. "Gorilla impression?"
Garron scratched the back of his neck, looking a little embarrassed. "I might have roared a bit too loudly."
I couldn't help but laugh, even with adrenaline still pumping. "Well, you did save us. Thank you."
Kyra's gaze lingered on us, studying us carefully.
Garron slapped the fallen beast's flank. "We'll harvest the core and the pelt. The town gates close at dusk, and it will only take a few minutes to get there. You're on foot; come with us."
I exchanged a glance with Sasha. The map still hovered faintly at the edge of my vision, the town icon pulsing green. No other threats appeared red, for now.
"We accept," I said.
The cart's interior was larger than it looked. Benches were padded with wolf fur. Kyra settled opposite us, legs crossed, her spectacles catching the light as she continued to study us.
After a moment, she leaned back slightly and smiled. "Congratulations on your marriage," she said, her voice light but sincere.Then she paused, tilting her head as she stared at us.
'Ah… now I understand why she was staring at us, because we are still in our wedding dresses!'