Great! Here's Chapter 30, where Elric begins his journey to the Savage Lowlands, meets a strange merchant, and uncovers whispers of a beast trial.
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Chapter 30 – Fangs, Feathers, and Forgotten Trials
The road to the Lowlands wasn't a road at all.
It was overgrown, wild, and humming with magic. Elric led the group, a crude map drawn by Kaela tucked inside his coat. Frost kept a low profile, wings half-tucked, but alert. Rue still didn't trust the wolf girl—and neither did Glen, whose blade never left his side.
> System Update
[Area: Border Grove – Wildgrove Outskirts]
Threat Level: Medium (Avg Mob Level 6–9)
Passive Bonus: EXP +10% for First-Time Area Travel
Bonus Quest Activated: [Scout's Path – Discover 3 Points of Interest]
Not long into their travel, they heard a strange jingle.
Metal clinks. Wooden wheels. And humming.
A massive cart rolled into view, pulled by a six-legged lizard beast. Atop it sat a strange figure—round goggles, a wide-brimmed hat, and a smile a little too wide.
"Ahhh! Young travelers! Brave or foolish, I ask?"
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The Merchant – Snaggles, Trader of Oddities
> Name: Snaggles
Race: Beastkin (Ferretkin)
Role: Traveling Merchant
Level: 12
Traits: Treasure Nose, Secret Storage, Beast Market Ties
"Snaggles sees you carry a beast egg," the merchant whispered, licking his teeth. "Rare. Beautiful. And you—boy—have the Shepherd's smell. Mmm. Delicious."
Rue: "You talk too much."
Snaggles laughed. "That's how I get paid."
> Shop Inventory Updated
[Slave Collar – 80 SP]
[Beast Identification Scroll – 30 SP]
[Beast Bond Catalyst (Lesser) – 100 SP]
[Beastkin Cloak – 60 SP, Camouflage in Forest Biomes]
[Secret Map Fragment – 40 SP, Lowlands Trial]
Elric eyed the Beast Bond Catalyst. "What does this do?"
Snaggles leaned closer. "A drop of your blood on that stone, and any unhatched egg will feel you. Like a heartbeat in their dreams. It's… bonding. The old way."
> System Tip:
Catalyst will grant +25 Loyalty to hatched beast.
One-time use.
"I'll take it."
---
Side Quest Complete – Found Point of Interest #1: Merchant of Secrets
> EXP Gained: +89
SP Gained: +20
Elric Leveled Up!
Current Level: 7
New Skill Unlocked – [Minor Beast Communication]
Description: Understand and project basic thoughts/emotions to tamed beasts.
---
That night, under the stars, Elric sat with the egg and the catalyst.
He pressed his finger to the stone. Blood. Warm. The egg pulsed in response.
"Don't know what you are yet," he whispered, "but you're not alone."
The egg… pulsed again. Like it heard.
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Later that Night – Trial of the Fang
Kaela returned.
Not with words. With a scroll, sealed in wax with a claw-marked insignia.
> [Beastkin Trial Invitation: Trial of the Fang]
Type: Solo Trial
Requirement: Must Have a Beast Companion
Reward: Tribal Recognition, Skill Unlock, Beastkin Totem
Location: Hollow Den, Savage Lowlands
"You want to enter our world?" Kaela said. "Then bleed in our arena."
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Elric's Status – End of Chapter 30
Level: 7 (Next: 290 EXP)
SP: 3
New Skill: Minor Beast Communication
Bond Catalyst Used: Egg Loyalty +25
Trial Available: [Trial of the Fang]
Beastkin Encountered: 2 (Kaela & Snaggles)
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Here's Chapter 31 – The Trial of the Fang, a long, detailed chapter with a deeper connection between Elric and his beast, a new rival, and a taste of the darker yet hopeful world.
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Chapter 31 – Trial of the Fang
The Hollow Den was not a cave.
It was an ancient ruin swallowed by nature. Stone arches bent under tree roots. Torches lit themselves with green fire as Elric stepped through the threshold.
Frost trotted beside him, silent as always. The egg—still warm—was secured in his pack, pulsing faintly like a heartbeat syncing to his own.
Kaela had vanished after handing over the trial scroll. Rue and Glen had stayed behind, warning him not to die like an idiot.
> System Update
You've entered a Sacred Beastkin Trial Ground
Solo Trial Activated: [Trial of the Fang]
Objective: Prove yourself worthy of Beastkin respect
Requirement: Defeat a rival summoner and protect your bond
Difficulty: Medium–High
Warning: Failing the trial results in permanent rejection by the Beastkin Tribes
Elric gulped. "No pressure."
---
The Arena
A circular arena of moss-covered stone opened before him. At its center stood a boy no older than Elric—with glowing golden eyes, fox ears, and twin tails swaying behind him.
> Name: Tiero
Race: Beastkin (Fox Tribe)
Level: 9
Class: Spirit Caller
Beast Companion: Emberclaw – Flame Lizard (Rare)
Special Skill: Flame Whip, Beast Merge (Locked)
"You're the outsider," Tiero said coldly. "Weak. Human. You don't deserve the bond."
"I don't need your approval," Elric replied with a smirk, heart pounding. "My beast chose me."
---
[Battle Start!]
> Tiero uses Skill: [Flame Whip]
Emberclaw lashes fire across the ground, creating a ring of flame around Elric.
> Elric uses Skill: [Minor Beast Communication]
You reach out to Frost emotionally.
Command: Circle and flank. Aim for legs.
The wolf vanished in a blur, appearing behind the Flame Lizard and slashing its leg.
The beast stumbled, screeching. Elric rushed in, tossing a stone into the fire and triggering a distraction.
Tiero frowned. "Clever. But not enough."
> Tiero activates: Beast Merge [Partial]
His body glows. His arms shimmer with scales and claws.
Speed and power up +50% for 30 seconds.
"System! Tips!"
> System Analysis:
Target is 2 levels higher. Strategy suggestion: Outlast his merge duration.
[Passive Unlocked: Minor Tactical Insight – Recognize enemy cooldowns based on battle flow]
Elric grit his teeth. "Come on, Frost. Stall and wear him out."
---
[System Event Triggered – Egg Awakening]
> The egg in your pack trembles.
Due to emotional sync, battle danger, and bonded catalyst…
The Beast is Awakening.
"Now?!" Elric shouted.
The egg burst in pale gold light, floating beside him.
Cracks. Pulses. Then a burst of wind.
A small creature emerged—fur like storm clouds, eyes like molten gold. Tiny wings fluttered awkwardly. It chirped—a sound full of fury.
> New Beast Companion Hatched!
Name: Zephyr
Type: Wind Elemental Pup
Rarity: Rare
Skill: [Gale Burst Lv. 1]
Loyalty: 25/100
Bond Level: Basic
Passive: Wind Walker – Boosts team evasion slightly
Zephyr let out a roar. (It was more like a squeak.) The arena wind exploded, disrupting the fire ring and knocking Emberclaw off balance.
Frost took the chance—slashing hard.
Emberclaw fell.
Tiero fell to a knee, panting.
"…You…" he muttered. "You passed."
> Trial Complete: [Trial of the Fang]
Rewards: +450 EXP | +35 SP | +1 Beastkin Totem
Elric Leveled Up!
Current Level: 8
New Skill Unlocked: [Beast Pulse – Sense nearby beasts and their strength]
Beastkin Respect: +30 (Neutral → Cautious Ally)
---
After the Trial
Tiero offered a hand, annoyed but respectful. "Don't die, outsider. I want a rematch someday."
Elric grinned. "Anytime. Bring a bigger lizard."
Kaela reappeared from the shadows, nodding once. "Your beasts trusted you. That's enough."
Frost bumped his leg. Zephyr curled in his arms.
He wasn't just surviving.
He was growing into something more.
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Elric's Status – End of Chapter 31
Level: 8
SP: 38
New Skill: Beast Pulse
New Companion: Zephyr (Wind Pup)
Trial Complete: Trial of the Fang
Enemies Encountered: Tiero (Fox Beastkin), Emberclaw
Allies Nearby: Kaela, Rue, Glen