The forest was eerily silent, the only sound being the ragged breathing of the Bloodfang Stalker beneath Alden. The beast's once-murderous red eyes were now flickering with something new—hesitation.
Alden kept his dagger pressed lightly against its back, his heartbeat steady. One wrong move, and the Bloodfang would likely turn on him again.
But he wasn't afraid.
Instead, he did what no other tamer would do in this situation.
He removed the dagger and let go.
Shadowfang growled in warning, but Alden raised a hand, signaling him to stand down.
The Bloodfang Stalker twitched, clearly confused by the sudden release. It had spent its life in constant battle, always hunted, always the predator. No one had ever given it a choice before.
For a long moment, nothing happened.
Then, the beast slowly turned its head to face Alden, sniffing the air as if testing his intent.
Alden met its gaze without fear.
"I'm not here to break you," he said, his voice even. "I'm here to offer you something better."
The Bloodfang let out a low snarl, but its body remained still.
Alden smirked. "You've spent your whole life running, fighting, and killing just to survive. But what if you didn't have to do it alone anymore?"
The beast's ears flicked.
Shadowfang stepped forward, his glowing blue eyes locking onto the Bloodfang's crimson ones. The two predators stared at each other.
Then, Shadowfang did something unexpected—he sat down.
The Bloodfang's eyes narrowed, but it didn't attack. Instead, it hesitated.
That was Alden's cue.
Reaching into his satchel, he pulled out a Beast Contract Scroll, one specifically designed for higher-ranked creatures. The parchment shimmered with silver glyphs, the ancient runes glowing faintly in the moonlight.
Alden held it out. "No chains. No force. Just a pact between equals."
The Bloodfang's gaze shifted from the scroll to Alden, as if searching for deception. It found none.
Then, with slow, deliberate movement, the beast pressed its forehead against the scroll.
A surge of energy pulsed through the air as the contract activated. Dark runes lifted off the parchment, circling around the beast before vanishing into its fur.
Alden felt the connection snap into place.
He grinned. "Welcome to the pack."
The Bloodfang—now his Bloodfang—let out a low chuff, almost like an amused huff.
Shadowfang's tail swayed slightly, his approval evident.
Alden stood up, brushing the dirt off his clothes. "Alright, let's head back. We've got a reward to collect."
The newly tamed beast stretched its limbs, rolling its shoulders before falling into step beside him.
And just like that, Alden's pack had grown.
But he had no idea that this decision would change everything.
Meanwhile…
Deep within the capital city, in the towering halls of the Celestia Tamer Academy, a man in dark robes stood before an enchanted mirror. The reflection wasn't his own, but rather that of a hooded figure, their golden eyes glowing beneath the shadow of their cloak.
The air between them crackled with tension.
"So… it has begun," the hooded figure murmured.
"Yes," the man in dark robes confirmed. "The boy has tamed an Abyssal beast… and now, he has taken the Bloodfang as well."
The figure's lips curled into a smirk.
"Interesting."
The mirror's surface rippled as the connection faded.
The hunt for Alden Draven had officially begun.