[ Bond Progression Detected. ]
[ Current Bond Level: 2 – Phase: Resonance Initiated. ]
[ New Ability Gained: Sharing Vision. ]
[ As a result of your strengthened bond with Fang – Shadow Wolf, you have unlocked the ability to synchronize your sight with your tamed beast. ]
[ Skill Name: Sharing Vision ]
[ Effect: Enables the Tamer to temporarily share the field of vision of the tamed beast, even from a considerable distance. ]
[ Trigger Method: ]
[ Perform a set of hand seals in the following order: Wolf Fang → Moon Eclipse → Spirit Flow → Open Eye ]
[ Mental cue: Focus on the beast's presence and envision opening your own sight through theirs.
[ Additional Effect: While the skill is active, the mental connection between the Tamer and the beast is enhanced, allowing limited emotional and directional awareness. ]
This was it.
Nice… Sharing Vision!
Tave's smile spread wider as the notification faded. This was exactly the kind of skill he'd been needing. Especially in a place like this. Like hell, he thought, this changes everything.
With Sharing Vision, he could now literally see through Fang's eyes. That meant scouting, tracking, ambushing. It all just became ten times more efficient.
Truthfully, skills unlocked through bond progression came with varying degrees of usefulness and rarity. Sharing Vision was considered high-tier, usually only accessible at later bond levels. It wasn't supposed to appear this early.
But thanks to the Bloodline Override, and the remarkable compatibility between him and Fang, the ability had unlocked ahead of schedule.
Now, Tave could send Fang to scout distant areas while he remained hidden, monitoring everything in real time. No more blind spots, no more relying on vague instincts. This was clarity, this was power.
He could also call Fang to come from afar when needed, further solidifying his role as the team's Scout.
And it made perfect sense. With two heavy-hitting beasts, Orion and Oriana in the squad, what the team needed now was someone who could move in the shadows, map out threats, and prepare the field before the chaos began.
Unti… Tave suddenly felt a deep, rapid thump in his chest. His heart kicked up its pace out of nowhere, even though he was supposed to be in a calm, resting state.
Could it be...? The thought sparked excitement.
He immediately dropped into a cross-legged position, centering himself with practiced ease. Focus. Quickly now.
And then, it happened.
Elemental particles began swirling wildly around him, shifting in erratic patterns. Black specks danced through the air like shadowy fireflies, and faint flickers of ember-colored light shimmered alongside them. Fire elemental particles.
That caught him off guard.
He shouldn't be able to see those. He didn't have an affinity with fire. But it was possible, if the elemental concentration in the atmosphere was high enough. In rare cases like this, even those without the affinity could absorb them, perhaps even unlock it if fortune favored them.
His core pounded harder. And then…
[ You have leveled up to Level 17. ]
A surge of raw energy erupted from his body. Darkness rippled out like a wave, shadow elements bursting free into the air around him. Tave opened his eyes just as the notification faded, his breath catching in his throat.
And somehow, he knew, he'd drawn attention.
He turned his head. Oriana and Lily were both standing now, already walking toward him. Their eyes held a mix of surprise and curiosity.
Ah, damn…
He'd forgotten that a level-up like this would flare his energy, and others could definitely sense it, maybe even guess his current level.
"Tave?" Lily was the first to speak, a small, surprised smile on her lips. "Level 16? Level 17? Is that real? How?"
Oriana chimed in, arching a brow. "Weren't you the one who just broke through to Gaia Apprentice not long ago? That's incredible progress... Level 17 already?"
He didn't answer. Didn't confirm anything. Rapid progress like this was possible under the right conditions. But of course, he couldn't exactly start explaining about the Bloodline Override to them.
"Maybe it's a secret?" Oriana said with a teasing smile, a small giggle escaping her lips.
But Lily didn't laugh. Her expression remained laced with concern. Not suspicion, just quiet worry. Not because the progress was unnatural, but because rapid advancement often came with... consequences.
Tave didn't push the topic. He rose to his feet smoothly, brushing off the moment by redirecting the conversation.
"I'll scout the area," he said plainly, throwing out the statement as a clear attempt to shift their focus.
He turned his gaze toward the volcanic mountain looming in the distance.
"That's the most obvious place. The likely location of the boss monster. But the journey there will take time. I'll start scanning the surrounding areas, especially in that direction. If everything goes well, we could reach it within a week or two."
There was no hesitation in his voice. He believed it. Fully. His stance was steady, his tone resolute.
Yes… he was confident in that statement.
***
Without them realizing it, night was already creeping in. The air had cooled, and the sky had begun to shift, streaked with deepening shades of purple and navy. Darkness would soon fall completely, and hunting in the dark was out of the question. For most of them, at least.
Tave was the exception.
Still, they made a decision to move while there was light. With Fang sent ahead to scout, the group began searching for a suitable resting spot. Ideally something open enough to settle into, but shielded enough to avoid unnecessary attention. An exposed area came with its risks, of course. But it also meant fewer ambush points for monsters lurking in the shadows.
At the very least, they would keep watch in shifts. Thankfully, with both Tave and Fang sharing strong senses and awareness, the night watch would be far from blind.
Eventually, they came upon a clearing. Wide and open, with large stone formations scattered around its perimeter. These rocks created natural barriers that made their presence harder to detect from a distance. It wasn't perfect, but it would do.
They moved quickly, setting up minimal camp gear and preparing their sleeping space. Every moment of rest mattered in a place like this.
Before settling in, they shared a simple meal, strips of dried meat, enough to fill their stomachs without the need to cook. Fire, in a zone like this, was a dangerous luxury. The scent of roasting food could easily attract monsters. Even though fire was abundant in this environment, it also meant danger was never far behind.
They agreed on a fair watch rotation: the first shift would be Tave and Oriana, with Lily and Orion covering the second half of the night. Fang would assist with the later shift as well.
Everything was quiet for now, but in a place like this, peace was always temporary.
Once night finally descended in full, the darkness wrapped around them like a thick cloak. The first night for Tave inside the Rift Expedition had officially begun.
The moon was barely visible, veiled behind rolling layers of heavy, ash-dark clouds. Only the soft glow from a few distant volcanic streams scattered around the area cast any light. Embers flickering faintly, just enough to give the landscape an eerie red tint. It wasn't nearly enough illumination for normal eyes. But for Tave, this was familiar territory.
And now, it was time.
Tave rose quietly, his silhouette blending easily into the dark. It was time to send Fang out farther, beyond the perimeter. The wolf was swift, silent, and deadly when needed. But Tave's reasons weren't just about patrolling for monsters.
He had something else in mind.
Out here in the Rift, where fire and chaos thrived, he needed to find the perfect location. A secluded, untouched spot where he could perform the ritual. The one meant to summon a Fire Elemental Spirit.
He didn't just need safety. He needed alignment. Silence. And the right concentration of elemental energy.
This wasn't a casual endeavor. The spirit he sought wouldn't come lightly.
Tave crouched low, his movements smooth and deliberate as he shifted toward the Shadow Wolf by his side.
"Fang…" he whispered, his voice barely more than a breath, "patrol the area. Map out the monster concentrations and anything else nearby. Especially in the direction of the volcanic mountain. Avoid danger as much as possible."
Fang looked up at him, and for a moment, their eyes locked.
Then, as if in direct response, the wolf's crimson eyes flared, glowing faintly like coals in the dark.
Without a sound, Fang turned and slipped into the shadows, his form melting into the black as he vanished into the night. Silent. Swift. Gone.