"Finally found you," he said, meeting up with Luna. "We need to find Osborn and tame his beast."
Zora wasn't sure, but if he knew better, Luna was ready for the fight.
Usually, by this time of the day, Osborn could be found by the polluted waters, which cut through the slums. That was his destination.
Zora was sure he was alone. Osborn was tasked with getting water for the orphanage. He takes on this task alone, using the opportunity to train with his beast.
Zora wasn't sure, but he had developed a troublesome feeling that Osborn was the secret leader of the three friends.
Dan was the impulsive one, but Osborn was quiet and reserved; he was intelligent too. Maybe due to this fact, Zora had subconsciously arrived at this conclusion.
"Any tips on how to win, max?" He asked while he ran and searched for his target simultaneously.
Max took his time. Not bothering to manifest, he replies directly to Zora's mind.
[Max: Systems are born from the deepest part of one's soul. Same goes for me, Mater Tamer.]
"I asked for a tip, not a lecture."
Max hesitated and then spoke.
[Max: I can only give information about your taming abilities when you pass this trial. Aside from that, I only know what you do.
Zora's brows came together.
"Just say you wouldn't help."
At that very moment, he caught sight of Osborn, who was staring at his pet strangely.
Zora slowed down, looking at Luna, he instructed.
"Sorry your mission to observe your target got cut short; hopefully, my substitute plan works." He rubs her fur. "Wait for me until I give you a signal."
Walking towards the clearing, Osborn met his gaze.
Osborn didn't move at first.
He stood at the edge of the polluted stream, water dripping from a half-filled bucket at his side, his posture calm—almost too calm. Behind him, the beast he had been training lingered in a half-stable state.
Zora slowed his pace as he approached, boots crunching against damp stone.
"So it was you." Osborn said, finally turning his head.
"Whatever do you mean?" Zora faked ignorance, mockery lacing his voice.
There was a brief pause.
"You filthy pig, you poison my beast," Osborn lashed out. "I'll kill you."
Zora's face stiffened, clutching his fist. He asked.
"So, it doesn't feel so good now, does it?"
Standing behind his opponent was a spider the size of a fully grown dog.
Zora had indeed poisoned the spider with a slow, non-lethal poison. The plan was only meant to weaken over the course of the next few days, thereby increasing Luna's chances of victory.
That was until the unexpected turn of events.
Osborn was oblivious to this, thinking his beast was on the verge of death.
"Hand over your academy invitation and your beast."
"What?"
"Come on now, that's not a hard thing to do."
"Seems you don't understand the bond between a tamer and a beast, not like a failure like you would ever know. I'll make sure of it."
What a burning fury! He ordered his spider to kill Zora.
Time and space seemed to be distorted. It happened all so fast that before Zora's mind could register what happened, a furious battle had begun.
The spider had closed the distance in a matter of seconds; it sprang at Zora but made contact for only a fraction of a second.
Luna had covered this distance, her motion a blur like a black star, biting into the beast.
[Max: Conditions have been met. Invading bond initiated.]
[Max: Complete time 56 seconds.]
Zora tore his gaze and observed the battle.
They had broken their tangled power struggle, and we were now observing each other.
"You bastard, when did you get a beast?" Osborn screamed. "What the hell are you doing to my beast?"
Zora wanted to respond to Osborn but couldn't. Something was wrong. He wobbled and fell, crashing into the dirt.
He felt weak, his senses dulling. Then, excruciating pain washed over him.
"ARGH!!"
Luna heard and dashed towards him but was struck in the side by one of the spider legs. If she wanted to win and get to her master's side, she had to destroy her foe, but what about the bonding?
Forget that. She charged at the beast before her with feral madness and anger.
[Max: The bonding process is extremely tasking on the mind and soul.]
Max paused, unsure if Zora was paying attention or not; regardless, he continued.
[Max: Another cause of your distress is the absence of a mana core. Osborn seems to possess one.]
"You...b–bastard. You should have told me sooner." He let out a breath.
The pain lessened with time.
[Max: 20 seconds left.]
Osborn stood rooted in one spot, unsure of what to do. His heart was currently held at bay by Luna, and a tiny figure stood besides Zora. Unsure of what the creature is, he watches helplessly as things unfold.
Luna weaved herself between the webs his beast had created around him as a protective measure; with one powerful paw swipe, she knocked Osborne unconscious.
The spider had slowed down in movement considerably due to the fact it was poisoned and currently covered by Luna's bits.
Luna wasn't unscathed either; the web of the spider was extremely durable and sure. She too was covered in injuries, blood seeping through them.
She was faring better than the spider.
[Max: Bond invasion completed.]
[Max: New beast acquired!]
Zora felt the pain reducing until it was finally gone.
"Dammit."
He felt his senses sharpen a little; at the same time, he felt like an invisible burden had been placed in his very soul, invading his mind.
He stood up slowly, taking in the aftermath of the battle.
[Max: You have gained a new beast! Congratulations!
[Max: You have received a special reward.]
[Max: Your stats and those of Luna have been updated. Would you care to take a look?]
Zora's brow twitched.
'You masochist bastard,' he thought.
"Yes, show me the stats of the spider."
[Name: Weaver.]
[Title: The puppeteer.]
[Race: ???]
[Spice: Araneae.]
[Ability: Webber.]
[Descriptions: Can create organic and mana-based web.]
[Strings: 1/5]
[Rank: 2/15]
"Strings, not tails, huh? I guess that potential is unique to all beasts."
[Max: Correct.]
[Max: Want to open your reward?]
"Hold on, show me Luna and my stats."
Right now, Luna was glowing, as if awakening for the first time.
[Name: Zora.]
[Title: Master Tamer.]
[Age: 14]
[Ability: Bond Thief.]
[Ability Description: You can only tame an already tamed beast.]
[Tamed beast: 2.]
"Huh, interesting. What about kitty?"
[Max: Kitty has awakened; here are her stats.]
[Name: Luna Queen.]
[Title: Skinwalker]
[Race: Yokia.]
[Spices: Red Fox.]
[Ability: Primal Evolution.]
[Description: She can take whatever form she pleases.]
[Tails: 1/9]
[Rank: 1/15]
"Yes!" Zora yelled, excited. With this, he did definitely grow stronger.
Due to his excitement, he hadn't taken note of when Luna transformed until she hugged him from behind.
Sniff, sniff.
[Luna: Master smells so nice.]
He froze. Luna could talk? This was great news.
He turned.
Luna's hair was white as snow, falling beautifully down her back. Her eyes were crimson red; her figure was breathtaking.
Zora blushed, quickly averting his eyes. Right now, Luna was bare-skinned.