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Stonejaw Range bristled with stories of raptor packs with granite hides, rock eating ursines, even the rare beast called 'Cliff Basilisk' that turned prey to petrified statues.
Zephyr's stomach clenched. "We can't fight C‑Rank beasts head‑on." He needed a plan. Otherwise death awaited them.
When Fenna woke up, Zephyr recreated a hand drawn map. Grent had once showed to Zephyr. They mark minor trails along the eastern ridges. Star stood on the parchment, tail tracing routes.
"We start by scouting," Zephyr said. "Measure beasts, find a weak pack member. We need to find a beast core for Star. If he became stronger then we got better chances. But this area is dangerous. We might get hurt."
Fenna set her jaw. "Okay! I will brew stronger healing pills. I got some herbs inside my pouch."
Three hours later they hiked a goat path up the first ridge. Star gilded ahead, disappearing behind boulders, returning with chirps. Zephyr's Dragon Sense felt for heavy mana pulses, but none found yet.
Near midday, they topped a granite bluff. Below, a plateau stretched like a cracked table. On its far edge, skeletal pine trunks encircled a shallow pit filled with bones and gemstones.
Through his Sense, Zephyr counted three heavy mana signatures and many lighter flickers. They craned their heads over the rock lip.
Stoneclad Raptors (Rank-E), a muscular creature with four legs covered in plates of granite gray scales. They root like a raptor dinosaur. Two adults ripped flesh from a furry carcass. A juvenile paced the pit, pecking at crystals embedded in bones. Within the nest gleamed a single green blue orb the size of Zephyr's fist. It was a condensed C‑Rank beast core.
Fenna's breath caught. "Look There."
Zephyr's heart hammered. "Yes. And two adults."
Star hissed, hackles rising. He flared wings, muscles tensing as if to dive. Zephyr steadied him. "Not yet, little one."
They crawled back. Star's scales dimmed. Zephyr's head spun with plan fragments, "Trap? Lure? Wait until night?" He remembered Command Aura Tier 1; it could spook lesser dragons species, but raptors were avian‑reptile hybrids, unaffected.
"We will observe tonight," Zephyr decided. "See if adults leave to hunt."
Back at the tower, they spent the remaining daylight drilling.
Spark Dash Relay: Star shot between two posts fifteen meters apart, banking mid air. Each successful dash earned a sliver of fireheart moss.
Agility +2. Wing power +1.
Command Calm: Zephyr honed aura to soothe Star's restless energy, a skill vital for long stakeouts.
Bond harmony up.
Fenna's Herb Work: She brewed a brew of frost petal and ember thistle, "Chillflare tonic" capable of numbing raptor jaws or igniting if tossed onto a torch. Testing on an old blanket left half charred, half frozen.
Star watched, fascinated by it. His tail was beating.
Night fell golden‑orange. They ate simple stew of river fish, dried roots. Star nibbled on beast pellets, then curled under Zephyr's cloak. Exhaustion tugged at them, but tomorrow demanded courage.
Before dawn, they returned to the bluff. Frost glittered on granite. Raptors slept in the pit below, talons curled.
Hours crept. A midday breeze carried a burned iron scent of blood or hot stone. Star sat still, only his eyes tracking every movement.
At dusk the adults stirred. One raptor screeched, wings beating dust; the other followed into dark pines, hunting. The juvenile remained in the next, guarding.
Zephyr tensed. "Core only lightly guarded now. But the juvenile is still strong."
Time trickled past. Moon climbed. The juvenile prowled the nest rim, restless. Suddenly it bolted uphill, chasing a fleeing slope hare. It was hungry or it wanted to play the hare to death, still unknown.
Zephyr breathed loudly, "Now."
They slid down the bluff's backside, circling under rock ledges until they reached the pit's edge. Crystal shards crunched under boots. The core gleamed on a pile of brittle bones.
Zephyr dashed forward and grasped the orb. Cold lightning sparks shot up his arm, the raw power of condensed life. He stuffed it into a rune lined pouch Fenna had stitched in the academy. It remains inside her pouch. They got lucky or Fenna (a ladies) pouch holds many mysteries. (Go find out for yourself. -_-)
Star hissed a warning.
Juvenile raptor lunged back into the pit, mouth wide.
Fenna hurled the Chillflare tonic. It shattered on stone, releasing a twin blast of frost and flame. Steam billowed, confusing the beast.
Zephyr shouted "Spark Dash!" Star streaked like a comet, slashing the raptor's snout. The beast recoiled, screeching.
They ran, scrambling up the slope.
Behind them the angry screeches echoed. Adults answered, thunderous wings smashing branches.
Zephyr's lungs burned. They dove beneath a ledge tunnel Star had scouted earlier. The tunnel tightened, too small for raptors.
They crouched, panting. Raptors screamed outside, talons scraping rock. Star trembled in half fear, half thrill.
After an eternity the wingbeats faded. Silence returned, broken only by wind.
Zephyr opened the pouch. The core pulsed, blue‑green light dancing in Star's eyes.
[Systemnotifications: C‑Rank beast core captured.
Objective Two complete.
Stage 3 progress 100 %.
Processing rewards…
Host Blood‑line purity +3 % → 21 %
Star can now absorb core fragments for next evolution (Juvenile+).]
Fenna sagged against the wall, laughing weakly. "We did it."
Zephyr drew her into a hug, "Yes! We did it." Star wedged between them. For a moment all the fear, cold, and exhaustion fell away beneath warm triumph.
Back at the tower lair, they set the core on a straw mat. Star circled it, eyes wide, nose twitching at raw power.
"Tomorrow we start controlled absorption," Zephyr said. "Slow pulses only, to avoid backlash."
Fenna rinsed blood off her gloves. "We need rest. And a plan for the Guild, they must be still searching for us."