The Steel-Claw Eagle shrieked above the valley, its massive wings cutting through the mist like blades. Each beat sent gusts that tore branches from the trees and hurled dirt and pebbles into the air. The sound of scraping stone echoed as boulders tumbled down the slopes, rolling into the fog. Its crimson eyes burned with fury, the primal intelligence of a Silver-tier boss sharpening with every second. Kaelen crouched behind a jagged rock, Frostbite Blade trembling slightly in his hand. His muscles were coiled, his senses heightened. Every shift in the mist, every vibration of stone beneath his feet, carried meaning.
Luna let out a low, resonant roar, and Kaelen felt the vibration in his chest. Even as a newborn, her presence was commanding, a force of nature tightly contained in her small, brilliant frame. The sunlight caught on her white-gold scales, making her shimmer like molten metal. She flexed her wings experimentally, tail flicking in warning.
The Eagle dived, wings slicing the fog. The wind tore at Kaelen's clothes and hair, and he rolled sideways as the pressure from its descent slammed the rock where he had been moments before. Dust and shards of stone swirled around him, and for an instant, the world seemed to shiver with raw, unrestrained power. He sprang up, Frostbite Blade ready, and felt the rhythm of battle settle into him. Every movement, every adjustment, every breath mattered.
Above him, the Eagle's wings spread wide, generating gales of air sharp enough to carve through tree trunks. Kaelen ducked behind a boulder, heart hammering, as debris whipped past him. The creature's screech was deafening, a sound that seemed to pierce through bone. Luna responded instantly, leaping from her perch, tail arcing toward the Eagle with unerring precision. Their clash sent a shockwave through the valley, shaking loose pebbles from the slopes and stirring the fog into swirling patterns of silver and gray.
The vibrations in the earth shifted. This time, not from the Eagle, but from approaching footsteps. Kaelen tensed. Through the mist, figures appeared—dozen of them, each a player, some in mismatched armor, others sporting early-game weapons that glinted in the dim sunlight. At their forefront strode a man clad in black and crimson, his guild insignia—a coiled serpent around a blade—catching the light. Kaelen knew that look immediately: a mixture of arrogance, confidence, and entitlement.
"Well, well. The famous First Dawn," the man said, voice smooth, sharp-edged. "Fighting a Silver-tier boss alone?"
Kaelen exhaled slowly, deliberately. "You're interrupting."
"Interrupting?" The man stepped closer, spreading his arms as if the entire valley belonged to him. "No, I'm giving you an opportunity. My guild could use someone like you. You've got a dragon—very impressive. Join us, and I'll make it worth your while."
Kaelen's gaze flicked to Luna, who crouched, wings slightly extended. Then back to the man. "Not interested."
The man's smile hardened. "You don't even know what I'm offering. Real-world money, a nice sum. Hand over the dragon, and your problems are solved."
Kaelen's jaw tightened. The word "partner" echoed in his mind. He thought of her small heartbeat, the warmth beneath his fingers, the trust she'd already shown him. "You want me to sell my partner?"
The man laughed, a sharp, hollow sound. "It's just a pet, kid. Sell it before someone else does."
The words landed with the weight of ice. Kaelen's hand hovered over his inventory. Calmly, deliberately, he made a choice. With a flick of his wrist, he activated [Coin Toss].
The leading attacker fell in an instant. The others froze, disbelief spreading across their faces like wildfire. Kaelen moved with controlled efficiency, sidestepping, parrying, and redirecting attacks in fluid motions. Even with Luna occupied by the Eagle, his actions alone were enough to sow panic.
The Eagle, sensing the shifting battlefield, focused its fury on Luna. Kaelen shouted, and she responded immediately, wings stretching as she launched upward. Her tail struck the Eagle mid-dive, feathers and sparks flying in every direction. The clash echoed through the valley, a symphony of raw energy.
Luna spun, struck, and lashed again, driving the Eagle back. She rose above it, fire beginning to gather in her chest, white-gold flames crackling along her jaws. Kaelen ducked another lunge from the remaining players, then rolled to a better position to watch the fight. He felt the flow of battle, the rhythm syncing with his heartbeat, each beat another measure of survival.
The Eagle flailed, wings battered, energy shimmering around its form as Luna pressed the attack. Finally, with a roar that echoed off every ridge, Luna unleashed her breath. A torrent of white-gold fire surged forward, illuminating the valley, throwing long shadows of rocks and trees. The Eagle collapsed, wings broken, sprawling across the stone floor.
Silence fell. Even the wind seemed to hold its breath. The other players froze, unable to process the scale of what they had just witnessed. Luna landed beside Kaelen, tail sweeping the ground behind her as she adjusted the new Azure Armor across her small frame. It gleamed faintly, reflective, protective—a tangible sign of their triumph.
Kaelen rested Frostbite Blade on his shoulder, watching the defeated Eagle. "Still think it's just a pet?" he asked quietly.
The guild leader's pride shattered under the weight of reality. "You're… insane," he muttered.
"Probably," Kaelen replied calmly. "Now run. Before she gets bored."
The players scattered into the mist, stumbling over rocks, tripping each other as fear replaced arrogance. The valley settled into a fragile calm, broken only by the rustling of leaves and distant cries.
Kaelen exhaled, shoulders releasing the tension they had held for so long. Luna chirped softly, brushing her snout against him, the armor pulsing faintly as if alive. Together, they watched the valley stretch out, mist curling around rocks and trees, remnants of the battle hanging in the air.
Then, the server-wide notice erupted:
[Player 'Kaelen' has achieved the world's first Silver-tier Boss Kill!]Reward: Title "Slayer of Silver," +1000 Global Reputation, +Exclusive Trait Progression Bonus
Every interface on the server blinked with the news. Global chat erupted in chaos:
"First Silver-tier already?!"
"No way! Day One!"
"Who the hell is Kaelen?!"
"That's the guy who soloed Bronze-tier earlier!"
"First Dawn again… unbelievable."
High-ranking guild scouts on nearby ridges exchanged sharp glances. "If he's not in a guild yet, he will be. Or someone will ensure he doesn't survive to compete," one said quietly.
Kaelen didn't respond. He allowed the words to wash over him, distant, irrelevant. He was focused on the valley, on Luna, on the two remaining threats looming through the fog at the far end. The Corrupted Tiger and Corrupted Lion moved slowly, massive silhouettes flickering like ghosts in the mist.
He tightened his grip on Frostbite Blade. "Two left," he murmured, voice low.
Luna's eyes glowed faintly, sensing his intent. Together, they stepped forward, moving with silent precision. The mist parted around them as if acknowledging their purpose. The storm of the valley was far from over—but for now, the wind was on their side, the ground steady beneath their feet, and the bond between human and dragon unbroken.
Kaelen exhaled again, feeling the rush of adrenaline ebbing. Every fiber of him was alive, every sense attuned to the world around him. This was no longer a fight for survival; it was the first step in carving a path through a world that would test every limit of his will. And he would face it—partnered with Luna, undaunted, unstoppable.