The cavern trembled as Keith faced off against the towering seven-meter Feral Ape King. Its steel-like claws glinted under the faint light, slashing through the air with precision. Keith’s blade met the beast’s claws in a clash of sparks, the metallic sound ringing out as both combatants were forced back slightly.
Keith steadied himself, his golden eyes narrowing. “A Peak Grade Four,” he muttered under his breath, recognizing the sheer power radiating from the beast.
But before he could say more, Narna exclaimed excitedly, her voice echoing in the cavern. “It’s a Peak Grade Four!” Her eyes sparkled with greed as she gazed at the massive creature. She was already imagining what it would be like to own such a beast, to add it to her growing collection.
Keith, however, had no time to share her excitement. The ape lunged at him again, its claws tearing through the air with enough force to shatter stone.
Keith parried with ease, being a Diamond Ranked Dunter allowed him to stay a step ahead of the beast. Each of his movements was calculated, his strikes aimed to incapacitate rather than kill.
“I bet you want to tame this one too,” Keith said sarcastically, sidestepping a powerful swing from the ape.
Narna didn’t respond. Her focus had shifted entirely to the eggs resting on the pillar-like structure at the cavern’s center. If she could claim them, she wouldn’t need to tame the Feral Ape King at all. She could simply raise the beasts from birth, ensuring their loyalty.
Her feet moved quickly, closing the distance to the eggs. The ape, however, noticed her immediately. It let out a furious roar and abandoned its fight with Keith, charging toward her with murderous intent. Narna barely dodged its attack, her fury growing as the beast thwarted her attempts.
“Why is it so protective of the eggs?” Narna hissed, retreating to a safer distance. “Apes don’t even lay eggs!”
Keith, mid-duel, called out to her, “It probably killed the original parent and plans to eat them later. Mana beast eggs are packed with essence—perfect sustenance.”
Narna’s face darkened with determination. “Then those eggs are mine!”
Keith rolled his eyes, dodging another strike from the ape. He continued holding back, careful not to inflict fatal injuries. He knew Narna would want to tame the beast, and while he found her greed exasperating, he wasn’t going to ruin her plans.
But Narna had different ideas.
Frustrated that the Feral Ape King kept thwarting her attempts to reach the eggs, Narna decided to unleash the full force of her arsenal. She channeled magic essence into her Life Key, the small ring glowing as it released her remaining tamed beasts.
In an instant, a dozen mana beasts materialized around her, their forms varying in size and type. The most imposing was her Nightmare Wolf, a Grade Four beast that stood as her strongest. The others, ranging from Grade Five to weaker Grade Six beasts, formed a chaotic pack.
“End it!” she commanded, her voice ringing with authority.
Read exclusive chapters at empire
Keith stepped back as Narna’s beasts launched themselves at the Feral Ape King. The cavern erupted into chaos.
The Nightmare Wolf led the charge, its glowing red eyes locked onto the ape as it lunged with claws extended. Meanwhile, the other beasts attacked from all sides, some using ranged magic while others engaged in close combat.
The ape fought back savagely, its claws tearing through several of the weaker beasts. But despite its strength, it was outnumbered and overwhelmed.
Keith watched the battle unfold, his brow furrowed. He had a sinking feeling that Narna was making a mistake, but he stayed silent, letting her have her way.
After several minutes of relentless attacks, the Feral Ape King staggered. Blood dripped from its massive frame, its once-imposing figure now battered and weak.
Raaaaarrr!!
With one final, desperate swing, it attempted to fight off the Nightmare Wolf, but the wolf dodged easily, sinking its fangs into the ape’s neck.
The beast let out a guttural roar, its voice echoing through the cavern.
Graaaaarr!!
But this roar was different. It carried a primal energy, one that sent a chill down Keith’s spine.
Narna ignored it, her eyes gleaming with triumph. “It’s over!” she declared.
The ape collapsed, its massive body hitting the ground with a resounding thud. Narna wasted no time. She hurried to the pillar, her gaze fixed on the obsidian eggs.
As she got closer, she noticed the eggs had faint orange veins running through them, glowing like molten lava. Her excitement grew, and she reached into her Void Key, pulling out a thick book.
Flipping through the book’s pages, Narna searched for a description of the eggs. As she read, her triumphant smile faded, replaced by a look of dawning horror. Her fingers trembled as she traced the words on the page.
Meanwhile, Keith’s gut twisted. The Feral Ape King’s final cry lingered in his mind, its primal tone hinting at something far more dangerous. He turned his gaze to Narna, whose expression had shifted entirely.
“What is it?” he asked, stepping toward her.
Before she could answer, the ground began to shake.
Miles away, deep within a smaller, denser cavern, two pairs of enormous eyes snapped open. The crimson red pupils gleamed with malice, their glow illuminating the dark chamber. A powerful, oppressive aura spread outward, crashing through the forest and beyond.
In the cavern where Narna and Keith stood, the pressure hit like a physical force, pinning them in place. Keith gritted his teeth, his knees buckling slightly under the weight of it. Narna froze entirely, her hand still clutching the book.
“Keith…” she whispered, her voice trembling. Tears welled up in her eyes as she turned to face him, her mouth opening as though to speak. But no words came out. The pressure was too intense. However, she mouthed. “It was a wrong decision.”
Keith didn’t need her to say anything. Her expression told him all he needed to know—they were in grave danger.
A furious roar echoed through the caverns, shaking the walls and cracking the ground beneath their feet. Keith’s golden eyes widened as the realization struck him.
“Something’s coming,” he muttered, his voice barely audible over the roar.