Rotten Forest
The Rotten Forest was silent, yet eerily alive.A strange scene unfolded beneath its withered canopy—Qin Fu, calm and meticulous, stood beside the corpse of a giant owl, scribbling notes on a sheet of paper. The sight was almost comical: a friendly-looking scholar surrounded by death.
For a moment, it was hard to tell who looked more terrifying.
By the time Qin Fu finished recording the data from his new spell sequence, the Night Demon Owl had drawn its final breath. Before it died, its dimming eyes glanced toward the enormous dead tree behind him—pleading, almost human.
[Hint: You have slain the Night Owl.][Obtained: 1% of the Source of the World (Current total: 1%).][Talent "Void Devourer" activated — Intelligence +1, Mana +3 (Current: 443). The enemy's soul has been absorbed, but current soul power is below display threshold.][Loot Acquired: Treasure Chest (White).]
Qin Fu crouched down, picked up the white chest, and tucked it into his storage space. His gaze then lifted toward the massive dead tree the owl had been guarding.
If his observations were correct, the creature's mana core had been heavily depleted long before their battle. Unless that was caused by his new spell's side effects, there could only be one explanation.
He began to climb.
After a short ascent, a glimmer caught his eye—a nest built into the upper branches, cradling a single, pitch-black egg nearly half his size.
So that was it.The owl hadn't been guarding treasure. It had been guarding its offspring.
Qin Fu frowned. The air around the nest smelled faintly of rot and blood. Scattered among the twigs and moss were human bones—adventurers who had wandered too deep into the forest. There were many.
"So this was your territory," he murmured. "And these were your warnings."
He rummaged through the remains, testing a few discarded weapons. Most were rusted or cracked. When he held up a long sword, the blade dulled and unresponsive, he sighed and set it aside.
"None of this junk can even be notarized."
As he continued searching, a faint crack interrupted the silence.Then another.The sound of eggshell breaking.
Qin Fu turned, startled, and watched as fine fractures spread across the black egg's surface. He had planned to collect it for study later—maybe see if he could raise its potential level—but the creature inside had decided otherwise.
"Huh?"
A weak chirp came from within. A small beak broke through the shell, followed by a trembling, black-feathered chick that stumbled into the light.
Qin Fu crouched closer, intrigued. He pulled out some dried rations and offered a piece.The chick tilted its head, blinked twice, and turned away.
He chuckled softly. "Not interested, huh? Figures. I have no idea what demon owls even eat."
Suddenly, the chick let out a series of sharp cries—then began pecking eagerly at its own eggshell.Each crunch echoed clearly through the nest.
Qin Fu raised a brow. "Efficient little thing," he muttered. The rhythmic crack-crack almost made him hungry.
He was still watching in quiet amusement when a blur of motion sliced through the air above him.Something was diving straight toward the nest.
Qin Fu didn't even look up. His hand lifted instinctively, [Secret Scepter] glowing with silver-gray light.A single Void Missile launched with a sharp hiss.
Bang!
The projectile hit its target midair. The shadow vaporized instantly—no loot, no corpse, not even ash. Only the familiar chime of the system confirmed what had happened.
[Hint: You have slain the Egg Thief.][Obtained: 0.2% of the Source of the World (Current total: 1.2%).][Talent "Void Devourer" activated — Intelligence +1, Mana +2 (Current: 455). The enemy's soul has been absorbed, but current soul power is below display threshold.]
"Tch. Two mana?" Qin Fu muttered with mild disgust. "Barely worth the cost of one Void Missile."
He dismissed the notification and turned his attention back to the nest.
The chick had finished eating. Its once-naked body was now slowly sprouting feathers, sleek and dark with a faint bronze sheen. Two long, ear-like tufts stood upright on its head, just like its late mother.
The young demon owl fluttered awkwardly into the air and landed on Qin Fu's shoulder.It rubbed its tiny head affectionately against his cheek.
Qin Fu sighed, then raised his staff slightly.
[10 Mana points consumed. Basic Detection activated.][Name: Night Owl (Juvenile)]
He smiled faintly. "Looks like you're the next generation, huh?"
Health: 100%Mana: 100Power: 5Agility: 5Stamina: 3Intelligence: 10Charm: 1Luck: 1
Skill 1 — Divine Bird Slam (Active): Increases movement speed by 100%, consuming 10 mana per minute.Skill 2 — Dream Eater (Active): Consumes the target's dream and stores it. When encountering the same target, the user can spend 50% mana to forcibly drag the target into a dream.
…
Qin Fu blinked at the screen in disbelief. "Huh? What kind of bugged skill is this? Can it really pull someone straight into an illusion? Did this little thing mutate or something?"
He glanced at the young demon owl, who was quietly preening its feathers, looking far too innocent for something that dangerous. His curiosity flared.
"Paradise," he said. "Can I notarize it?"
[Testing…][Test complete. The hunter must pay three thousand Paradise Coins to establish a companion contract.][Proceed with notarization? Yes / No]
Qin Fu stared at the floating text, his mind working quickly. So, the system allowed it—and more importantly, it recognized him as a qualified contractor.That meant his authority in Paradise was higher than he'd assumed.He could afford to be a little bolder from now on.
"Yes," he said decisively.
The moment he spoke, a roll of parchment appeared in front of him, glowing faintly with golden light.
Startled, the little demon owl fluttered up in alarm, circling frantically until Qin Fu extended a calm hand to steady it. The chick hesitated, then perched obediently on his arm.
He unrolled the parchment. The text was standard—clauses on loyalty, protection, and mutual growth. Nothing unusual.
He turned toward the small owl perched beside him.
"Although you were just born, your intelligence isn't low," he said softly. "You can understand what I'm saying."
"I want to take you with me."
"Follow me, and you'll face countless battles. You might even die along the way."
His voice grew steadier, conviction sharpening each word.
"But I promise you this. You'll see a world far greater than this rotten forest. You'll have a future worth fighting for."
"What's the point of being king of a dying place like this? Don't you want to be free?"
The chick tilted its head, and in those bright, intelligent eyes flickered a glimmer of something—longing.
Qin Fu froze for a heartbeat. He'd seen that look before.It was the same look he once had, back when he struggled through life, trapped in a world that refused to let him breathe.
Back then, he had no choice but to keep going, to survive one day after another without hope.But now—things were different.
Now, he had the power to fight back.To reclaim his lost freedom.To live by his own will.
Even if it meant dying on the path of strength, it was still better than dying without ever trying.
"Hooh!"
A clear cry echoed through the forest. The little demon owl spread its tiny wings, its voice filled with pride and resolve. The sound rippled through the trees, as if declaring to the world that it had chosen its path.
Qin Fu smiled. The corner of his mouth lifted slightly as he placed his hand on the parchment.
"Then it's decided."
The owl followed his motion. Its wing brushed the parchment at the same time as Qin Fu's fingertip.A brief sting shot through his skin as a drop of blood fell onto the page. The parchment flared crimson, then burned to ash in midair.
A faint glow lingered in the air, reflected in their eyes—human and beast, both shining with the same fire.
From that moment onward, Qin Fu and the young demon owl were bound by destiny.No longer hunter and beast.But comrades.