With his body whole and his two bonded companions, Aran and Nova, at his side, Roran emerged from the cavern. The six months of recovery had instilled in him a dangerous, quiet patience. Now, it was time to move, and to move meant fighting the Level 8 beasts that dominated the higher elevations of the Scarlet Plains.
The trio developed a brutal, efficient rhythm. Roran used his Flow and Silence skills to find Level 8 targets mostly massive Stonehide Rhinos and Swiftfang Leopards while Nova, the Skyfire Eagle, acted as a fiery, airborne missile. Though only a newly-hatched bird, Nova's attacks were wreathed in Skyfire, a searing gold flame that bypassed the Rhinos' tough defenses. Aran, the Mountain King Cub, was the anchor, using powerful pounces and low, deafening roars that temporarily stunned their opponents.
It was a terrifying crucible, but the results were undeniable. Roran felt his connection to his companions deepen with every shared near-death experience. More importantly, the cubs were growing at an exponential rate.
Within weeks, Aran had devoured enough Level 8 cores to reach Level 5. His paws were now the size of Roran's hand, and his striped coat was glossy and powerful. Nova, ever the faster learner due to her celestial lineage, had reached Level 4, her wingspan doubling, allowing her to circle high above Roran, spotting danger from leagues away.
Finally, Roran decided the time had come. The constant fighting had hardened his body and purified his Qi, making him ready to face the challenge of absorbing the Level 10 Skyfire Eagle Core. This was the core he had kept after the initial fight, saving the Mountain King Core as a backup.
He found a secluded cave pocket, ordering Aran and Nova to guard the entrance.
"If anything comes near, anything at all," Roran told them, his voice low and serious, "you drive it away. I cannot be disturbed." Aran nodded, sitting like a small, striped sentinel, while Nova landed on Roran's shoulder and rubbed her fiery head against his cheek before flying to a perch near the entrance.
Roran placed the gleaming, fist-sized core on the ground. As he began the absorption process, drawing the raw, potent energy into his Dragon Core, the pain began.
A Level 10 beast core held power equivalent to a dozen Rank 7 human cultivators. The energy was not simply potent; it was wild, laced with the primal, unyielding will of the Skyfire Eagle itself. It felt like liquid metal being poured into his veins, seeking to rip his body apart from the inside.
Roran's skin blistered, his muscles spasmed, and a crimson mist of vaporized blood erupted from his pores. This was more dangerous than any beast attack; if he lost control for a second, the energy would explode his physical form, leaving nothing behind.
He gritted his teeth, pouring every ounce of his discipline into the Heavenly Dragon Technique, forcing the chaotic energy to submit. For three days, he sat, locked in a silent war with the celestial power, his own life hanging in the balance.
Then, with a shuddering, final surge, the energy submitted. It flowed into his central core, transforming his golden Dragon Qi into a denser, richer hue. When Roran opened his eyes, he was exhausted but transcendent. He had succeeded.
Roran's Status Update:
Dragon Qi Rank 7
New Skill Unlocked: Aura Concealment
Roran immediately activated his new skill, filtering his formidable aura. Instantly, the terrifying Rank 7 power vanished. To anyone below Rank 8, Roran now appeared to be a mere Rank 5 cultivator—slightly above average, but completely non-threatening to the powerful beasts of the plains.
With his power concealed, Roran, Aran, and Nova resumed their journey toward the area where he'd seen the portal appear. They moved faster now, but the Scarlet Plains were vast.
As they reached a pass carved through the jagged, red mountains, a commotion drew Roran's attention. A fierce battle was unfolding below. A Venom-Horned Grimoire, a Level 8 beast with horns that dripped corrosive poison, was cornering a human.
The human was a girl, no older than Roran, with striking brown eyes and a fiery intensity in her movements. She wielded twin, silver daggers, moving with exceptional speed and a sophisticated Flow technique. She fought brilliantly, using rapid strikes to cripple the beast, and it was clearly on its last legs.
But in her youthful impatience, she faltered. The Grimoire, playing dead, lashed out with a final, desperate move. She tried to dodge, but the beast's sweeping tail caught her ankle, tripping her and exposing her neck.
Seeing the beast rear back for the killing strike, Roran didn't hesitate.
"Nova, distract!" he hissed.
Nova descended in a flash of golden fire, raking the beast's eyes. Roran launched himself off the cliff face, using a burst of Qi to reach the girl instantly. He scooped her up and, using the beast's momentary blindness, plunged into a shadowed crevice carved into the mountain.
The Venom-Horned Grimoire roared in frustration, its toxic spittle melting the rock where the girl had been a moment before.
Inside the narrow, damp cave, Roran carefully set the girl down.
"What are you doing? Let me down!" she snapped, pushing weakly against his chest. Her ankle was clearly sprained, swelling rapidly.
Roran ignored the command, instead using the dim light to inspect the injury. He pulled out a small packet of the healing herbs he had foraged, chewing them into a poultice.
"If you move, the sprain will worsen," he said calmly, applying the paste to her throbbing ankle and binding it with a strip of cloth torn from his shirt.
She studied him with sharp, suspicious eyes, taking in his rugged clothing, the dirt, and the deceptively weak level 5 aura he projected.
"Who are you? And how are you even alive here? With a level 5 , you should have been dead the moment you set foot on these plains," she demanded. "And what are those?!" she gestured toward Aran and Nova, who had followed them inside.
Aran, sensing the girl's alarm, gave a soft, curious nudge to her elbow. Nova perched on Roran's shoulder, a miniature inferno of gold and brass.
"My name is Roran," he replied, giving his first name only. "I was sent by my family to train in isolation." A convenient, common lie among young masters. "And these are my bonded companions, Aran and Nova. As for how I got them, I suppose I was just lucky."
The girl's eyes widened, a rare mix of awe and disbelief replacing her annoyance. A Mountain King Tiger and a Skyfire Eagle both high-tier species, and both cubs bonded to the same person was nearly unheard of.
"Roran," she repeated, softening her tone. "My name is Lyra. And you just saved my life, though you nearly got yourself killed in the process."
Roran simply shrugged, preparing to leave. "I appreciate the thanks, but I have to go now. I need to get home."
Lyra immediately stiffened. "Absolutely not. You won the fight, but you're Rank 5, and I'm injured. We'd be easy prey if we split up. But if we stick together… don't worry, I will protect you. I have enough strength to get us through."
Roran merely gave a silent, wry smile. He had no intention of revealing his Rank 7 power, especially not to an impulsive stranger, but her conviction was endearing. He needed to get to the portal, and her familiarity with the area could be useful.
For the next few hours, Roran and Lyra, with Aran and Nova serving as flankers, moved through the plains, hunting Level 8 beasts. Lyra, with her daggers and sophisticated attack style, would engage the beast, tiring it out. Then, Roran would follow her opening with a seemingly simple, yet perfectly executed, Heavenly Dragon Strike that finished the beast instantly, making him look like an exceptionally skilled Rank 5 fighter.
Their synergy was incredible, and they decimated the Level 8 population around them. Lyra grew more and more confident in Roran, marveling at his control.
They had just downed a massive Steel-Clawed Grizzly when the ground around them grew silent. The sounds of the forest vanished, replaced by the soft shuffle of many feet.
Roran looked up, his false Rank 5 aura momentarily flickering with concealed alarm. They were no longer alone. Surrounding them in a perfect, quiet circle were eight human figures, all clad in heavy, dark leather armor and projecting the powerful auras of level 7 and level 8.