The Companion Bond stabilized fully only a few moments after Nysera finished hatching.
Warmth spread steadily through Traise’s body while the connection settled into place, subtle at first yet impossible to ignore once the effects fully reached his muscles and joints.
His body responded differently right away after he had opened his status window.
Nysera’s bond increased nearly every attribute he possessed, and unlike Luna’s speed-focused influence, the bonus from Nysera’s presence felt steadier throughout his body.
Combined with the paired daggers resting at his waist, the changes layered together into something far larger than a simple addition to his stats.
The increase to Endurance alone dulled much of the lingering strain from the Roc Python Queen fight, while the set bonus linking Viper Fang and Queen’s Fury together sharpened the rhythm of his movements in ways he could physically feel.
His balance carried less wasted motion whenever his hands drifted near the weapons, and standing no longer felt as exhausting as it had earlier inside the lair.
Nysera had not even begun growing yet.
The thought remained in the back of his mind while he looked down toward the small white serpent loosely coiled around his arm.
Luna had already changed the way he survived inside the forest, and Nysera’s bond was already doing the same before she had even joined her first real hunt.
The stronger his companions became, the stronger he became alongside them, and Nysera possessed a draconic bloodline ancient enough that even the system descriptions felt unnerving.
At the same time, it remained strangely difficult to associate those terrifying implications with the newborn hatchling currently staring at him with open curiosity.
Nysera was powerful for a hatchling, yes, but she was still a hatchling.
One mistake against a stronger predator could kill her just as easily as anything else inside the forest.
All the potential in the world would mean nothing if she died before reaching it.
Traise eventually closed the system window before glancing back toward her with a quiet exhale.
“You’re not going to become a problem later, are you?”
Nysera tilted her head at the sound of his voice.
Luna immediately inserted herself between them afterward, not aggressively, but with enough smug confidence that her intentions became obvious anyway.
The Lunar Spirit Fox leaned directly against Traise’s side while staring down at Nysera with clear authority through the bond.
Nysera lowered her head slightly in response, though her attention never fully left Luna afterward.
Traise nearly laughed.
The entire interaction felt strangely normal, considering they were standing inside the corpse-filled lair of a creature that had nearly killed him hours earlier.
Even so, the weight of the situation settled more heavily into his thoughts the longer he looked between them.
Luna had already changed the way he survived inside the forest.
He moved differently now, fought differently, and planned around far more than simple desperation.
Now there were two creatures depending on him instead of one, not only for protection, but for food, growth, and every decision that determined whether they survived another day.
Strangely, the realization felt grounding instead of frightening.
After giving Nysera additional time to recover from hatching, the three eventually left the serpent lair together.
Traise stored the remaining corpses and salvageable materials inside his inventory before beginning the climb back toward the cliffs, though the Roc Python Queen alone consumed an enormous amount of storage capacity.
Even so, the materials proved extremely valuable once he reopened the shop interface later that afternoon.
The Dragon Coin increase from the Queen’s scales, venom sacs, and additional monster remains immediately eased part of the pressure lingering in the back of his mind.
The increase was nowhere near enough to solve everything waiting ahead, but it eased some of the pressure building in the back of his mind.
Equipment upgrades, stronger hunts, healing supplies, and skill growth already demanded far more resources than before, and now he had two companions progressing alongside him instead of one.
That alone changed the scale of what he needed moving forward.
The return trip toward the cliffs progressed far more slowly than usual, thanks to Nysera’s inexperience moving through uneven terrain.
More than once, Nysera slid awkwardly down loose stones or struggled to maneuver around exposed roots before correcting herself clumsily afterward.
Luna observed every single mistake with visible judgment radiating through the bond the entire time.
At one point, Nysera attempted to climb onto a fallen log only to immediately slide off the opposite side.
Luna stopped walking completely just to stare at her.
Traise rubbed his forehead while trying not to laugh.
“Don’t bully the newborn.”
Luna looked entirely unapologetic.
Nysera eventually solved most of the issues by climbing up and wrapping herself loosely around Traise’s shoulders whenever the terrain became difficult, though Luna continued glancing back toward her occasionally with the same unimpressed expression an older sibling might use while watching someone embarrass themselves publicly.
For a while, the strange normalcy of their interactions almost made the forest feel less oppressive than before, though the distant sounds echoing through the trees quickly reminded him how dangerous the region still remained.
By the time the cliffs finally came back into view, Traise’s thoughts had already shifted toward planning again.
The hunting routes near the eastern ridge remained reliable for weaker prey, but stronger creatures had recently become noticeably more active throughout the surrounding territory.
He would need to choose hunting paths more carefully moving forward, and avoid exhausting entire regions too quickly.
The deeper forest worried him far more.
The dungeon beneath the ruins still lingered constantly in the back of his thoughts, and the Moonfangs remained an unavoidable problem hanging over everything else.
The memory of the cub’s overwhelming speed still made one truth painfully obvious every time he replayed the fight in his head.
Every memory of the fight reinforced the same conclusion.
He still was not strong enough.
…..
Night eventually settled quietly over the cliffs once they returned to the cave overlooking the forest below.
Luna curled near his side beside the fire as usual while Nysera rested along his opposite arm, instinctively drawn toward warmth despite occasionally shifting in her sleep.
Outside the cave entrance, distant sounds echoed faintly upward from somewhere deep beneath the cliffs while cool wind drifted through the dark.
Traise remained awake longer than either of them.
The Moonfang Alpha still existed somewhere inside the forest.
The dungeon beneath the ruins remained completely unexplored.
Stronger predators almost certainly occupied the deeper regions beyond his current range, and now he carried responsibility for more than himself alone.
His gaze eventually drifted downward toward Nysera again.
For only a second after her golden eyes opened slightly in her sleep, the Companion Bond shifted strangely between them.
Something ancient stirred beneath the surface of the connection, distant and immense enough that the sensation vanished before he could fully understand it.
Then Nysera simply curled closer against his side again as though nothing had happened.
Morning gradually spread across the cliffs beyond the cave entrance.
Cold air drifted through the cave entrance while pale sunlight gradually spread across the rocky ledge outside, illuminating the distant forest canopy far below in uneven streaks of gold. This chapter was taken from novelping.com without permission.
The fire near the center of the cave had already burned down into faint embers sometime during the night, leaving only thin trails of smoke lingering in the still morning air.
Traise opened his eyes slowly before remaining still for several moments.
The exhaustion from the Roc Python Queen fight had faded considerably overnight.
Not completely, obviously.
His body still carried lingering stiffness from injuries that should have crippled him for days, but Minor Regeneration had continued repairing the damage throughout the entire night.
Ever since mastering the skill, the passive healing had become dramatically more effective than before.
Cuts that once would have lingered for days had already sealed entirely, while the venom burns across his arm had faded into little more than faint discoloration beneath the skin.
He pushed himself upright near the cave wall while Nysera remained loosely curled beside him beneath the blanket.
The hatchling stirred slightly from the movement before lifting her head sleepily toward him, golden eyes focusing on him almost immediately afterward as a faint pulse of recognition drifted gently across the Companion Bond.
Traise lightly tapped one finger against the top of her head.
“Morning.”
Nysera flicked her tongue once in response.
Nearby, Luna still rested near the dying embers of the fire, though unlike him, she looked visibly more exhausted from the Queen fight.
Several shallow wounds remained partially visible beneath her silver-black fur while her breathing stayed slower and heavier than normal.
Minor Regeneration had erased most of Traise’s injuries throughout the night, but Luna lacked the same absurd recovery speed.
Traise studied her quietly for a moment before exhaling softly.
A week ago, yesterday’s fight would have killed him.
Now the difference between then and now felt impossible to ignore.
His equipment had improved.
His instincts had sharpened.
His body had adapted faster than he ever thought possible during those first desperate days inside the forest, and the Companion Bonds only accelerated that growth further.
Now there were two companions relying on him instead of one.
The weight of that thought remained with him once he finally pushed himself upright.
Nysera instinctively climbed higher around his shoulders while Luna lazily opened one eye toward them in visible annoyance at being awake.
Traise almost smiled.
The paired daggers resting beside the cave wall caught his attention next.
Viper Fang and Queen’s Fury reflected faintly beneath the morning light while the set bonus linking both weapons together remained active beneath the surface of his body.
Even sitting still, he could feel how much smoother his movements had become compared to before.
The combination of Luna’s speed-focused bond, Nysera’s stability-focused attributes, and the Naga Queen dagger set had transformed the way his body functioned in combat entirely.
The hunting routes beneath the cliffs no longer felt worth the time they demanded.
Moderate-ranked prey still provided steady experience, but steady no longer felt sufficient when stronger creatures already waited deeper within the forest.
The Moonfang Alpha remained somewhere beyond his current range, the dungeon beneath the ruins still sat unexplored, and now he had two evolving companions growing alongside him instead of one.
Traise rested one arm across his raised knee while staring toward the distant tree line beyond the cliffs.
A few weeks ago, surviving another day would have felt like enough.
Now every decision carried more weight than before.
Better equipment meant stronger hunts.
Stronger hunts meant greater risks.
And with Luna and Nysera relying on him alongside their own rapid growth, wasted time was slowly becoming its own kind of danger.
His gaze drifted back toward the paired daggers near the cave wall afterward.
Hunting with Viper Fang and Queen’s Fury would take time to adjust to.
Traise had spent weeks surviving with a single dagger, learning how to strike quickly, retreat, and preserve stamina whenever possible.
Fighting with two blades changed the rhythm entirely.
His balance shifted differently, his reactions needed to be split between both hands, and even basic movements carried small moments of hesitation whenever he tried imagining how both daggers would flow together during an actual fight.
The bright side was that he finally had access to a solution.
Ever since unlocking the shop, Traise had occasionally browsed through its various categories whenever he had spare time, trying to understand what kinds of advantages The Upgrade System actually offered beyond raw stat growth.
Most of the options were still completely out of reach due to cost, but some immediately stood out as important long-term investments rather than temporary boosts.
Combat skills immediately stood out among the available options.
The system did not simply hand out mastery for free, but it clearly recognized the importance of proper fundamentals.
After everything he had experienced inside the forest so far, Traise understood better than anyone how dangerous it was to rely purely on instinct and stat advantages without understanding how to properly use them.
He opened the shop interface again while Luna rested near the fire and Nysera remained loosely coiled around his shoulders, curiously watching the glowing screen floating in front of him.
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[Combat Skills]
Training is the key to strength, but nothing can improve if you do not know the fundamentals.
All skills will start at the Initiate level and will need to be increased through practice and practical application.
[Training Skills]
Dagger Mastery – 6500 DC
Dual-Wielding Mastery – 8000 DC
Shield Mastery – 6500 DC
Spear Mastery – 6500 DC
Sword Mastery – 6500 DC
…
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The list continued far beyond that point, covering nearly every weapon type he could think of and several he did not recognize at all.
For a moment, Traise considered purchasing Dagger Mastery instead.
He already relied heavily on daggers during combat, and improving his overall understanding of them would undoubtedly help in the long run.
Still, after the fight against the Roc Python Queen, the weakness in his combat style felt far harder to ignore.
He already possessed enough experience with a single dagger to survive most encounters near the cliffs, but coordinating two weapons simultaneously would get awkward whenever fights became chaotic.
Ignoring dual-wielding while continuing to rely on both weapons would only create bad habits later, especially with his Dexterity and speed increasing as rapidly as they were.
After another moment of consideration, Traise selected the skill.
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[Skill Acquired]
Dual-Wielding Mastery
Class: Initiate Low
Type: Passive / Combat
The user gains a basic understanding of wielding multiple weapons simultaneously.
Further mastery will require diligence and effort if you wish to become a master with your weapons.
Current Bonus:
+5% damage when wielding two weapons
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The moment the window disappeared, a sharp pressure slammed into the back of Traise’s mind hard enough to force him forward.
He immediately caught himself against the cave wall as fragmented movements, stances, and instinctive adjustments flooded through his thoughts faster than he could properly process them.
His grip tightened painfully against the stone while his vision blurred from the sudden overload.
Luna reacted the moment he stumbled forward.
Concern surged across the Companion Bond as she pushed herself upright and hurried toward him, clearly alarmed by the abrupt change.
Nysera tightened herself around his shoulders as well, her body tensing while confusion and unease drifted faintly through their connection.
The pain itself lasted only a short time, but the sensation remained deeply uncomfortable as the information settled into place.
It did not feel like years of combat experience had suddenly appeared inside his mind.
Instead, it felt more like his body was being corrected against habits he never realized were flawed to begin with.
His posture shifted subtly as the information settled deeper into place.
The positioning of his shoulders felt more balanced.
His wrists no longer carried the same subtle tension whenever he imagined moving both blades together, and the weight distribution between his arms suddenly made more sense than before.
Tiny inefficiencies in his stance became painfully obvious in hindsight, especially once the instinctive understanding of the skill settled more deeply into his muscles.
Traise exhaled slowly as the pressure finally faded, then straightened again.
“I’m fine,” he muttered after noticing Luna staring at him closely.
Luna continued staring at him with obvious suspicion through the bond.
Traise rolled his shoulders experimentally before reaching toward the daggers resting beside the cave wall.
The moment his fingers wrapped around both hilts, the daggers felt noticeably more natural in his hands.
The adjustment was subtle rather than overwhelming, but the awkward resistance between movements had diminished almost immediately.
Earlier, wielding two daggers had felt like trying to force his off-hand to imitate movements it did not fully understand.
Now the motions carried a more natural rhythm beneath them.
His body instinctively adjusted the spacing and positioning between the two weapons without requiring constant conscious correction.
He stepped toward the open area near the cave entrance before slowly testing a few basic movements.
A forward slash with Viper Fang flowed naturally into a reverse strike from Queen’s Fury while his footing adjusted underneath him far more cleanly than before.
When he pivoted sideways afterward, the transition between both attacks no longer felt awkwardly delayed.
The improvement felt significant, but the skill had not magically transformed him into a master combatant overnight, and honestly, Traise preferred it that way.
The skill had not transformed him into some flawless dual-blade expert overnight.
His movements still lacked refinement, and his attacks remained rough compared to an actual experienced fighter.
What changed was efficiency.
His body no longer wasted nearly as much motion correcting itself between attacks.
As he continued testing the movements, Traise slowly realized something else had changed beneath the surface.
Before gaining Enhanced Agility and the enormous Dexterity boosts from Luna, Nysera, and the Naga Queen dagger set, his body had never needed to process movement at these speeds.
Every increase had made him faster, but his coordination constantly struggled to keep up with the acceleration.
Even Quickstep occasionally felt unstable whenever he pushed himself too hard during directional changes or chained movements.
Now, for the first time since inheriting Enhanced Agility, the speed of his movements no longer felt disconnected from the rest of his body.
The pattern became harder to ignore the longer he continued practicing.
His body finally seemed capable of properly utilizing the speed bonuses stacked throughout his build instead of barely hanging onto them through brute force and instinct alone.
The dual daggers no longer felt like separate weapons competing for control during combat.
His off-hand reacted more naturally now, allowing transitions between attacks to flow with noticeably less hesitation.
Traise activated Quickstep experimentally.
Wind swept across the cave floor as he accelerated forward before shifting sharply sideways into another movement.
Earlier in his progression, that kind of chained acceleration almost always caused imbalance afterward.
His footing would slip slightly, his shoulders would overcorrect, or his attacks would lose rhythm during the transition.
This time, his footing remained stable after the burst of acceleration.
The movement still lacked polish, but compared to the imbalance and overcorrections from earlier fights, the improvement felt enormous.
Traise immediately moved again, testing slashes, pivots, and directional transitions while gradually increasing speed with each repetition.
The paired daggers carved smoothly through empty air while his footwork adjusted far more naturally beneath the pressure of Enhanced Agility.
His attacks still carried small imperfections, but they no longer felt disconnected from the rest of his body.
The movements finally carried rhythm instead of resistance.
Luna eventually drew closer, watching him practice with open curiosity.
She could probably sense the difference through the bond as well.
Nysera observed from near the blankets nearby, her golden eyes following every movement intently whenever he accelerated across the cave.
Traise slowed after several more repetitions before lowering both daggers at his sides.
His breathing remained steady despite the repeated movement bursts, though adrenaline still pulsed faintly through his system from the realization settling into place.
His Dexterity had finally reached the point where his body could properly support the speed-enhancing skills and bonuses stacked throughout his build.
For the first time since gaining Enhanced Agility, his combat flow no longer felt like raw acceleration barely held together through instinct and desperation alone.