Cael lunged forward with a bit of the momentum, as he drove his blade straight into the beast's flank. The air cracked with a sharp "whump!" as the boar let out a deafening roar, stumbling to the side.
Lucien backed off, eyes narrowing in surprise as the shockwave rolled past him. "That's it! That's the way!"
Cael stood panting, his blade smoking faintly. "I'm not sure how long I can keep that up," he muttered, a grin tugging at the edge of his mouth.
Lucien's grin matched his. "Long enough to matter."
They were beginning to move in rhythm now, covering for each other's openings without speaking. It wasn't perfect, but it flowed well enough that their attacks started linking naturally. When Cael struck, Lucien guided the follow-through. When Lucien called a move, Cael executed without hesitation.
Lyra hovered near Lucien's shoulder, her faint glow pulsing in time with his breathing. Through their bond, Lucien felt her eagerness, the quiet hunger that had grown since their last fight.
He didn't need to speak for her to understand.
"Lyra," he whispered under his breath. "Go stronger this time."
A faint shimmer crossed her form as light gathered around her body. Then she moved, streaking forward like a line of silver flame. Her blades of light carved through the air, striking the beast's thick hide with precision.
Thrm! Shhk!
The horned boar roared again, swinging its tusks wildly. Lyra darted away just before the strike landed, then reappeared above its head, cutting down in a swift arc that left a glowing line across its skull.
Cael blinked, momentarily stunned by the speed. "Was it just me, or did she just get faster?"
Lucien smirked without taking his eyes off the fight. "She's just warming up. Didn't get to show her potential before."
He wasn't lying. The Essence Points he had fed her earlier had made a visible difference. Her strikes were cleaner, her aura sharper, and the strength in their connection felt thicker, as if something invisible between them had solidified.
Lucien felt pride stir quietly inside him. The system wasn't just power, it was growth made visible.
"Keep pressure," he called out. "Don't let it dig in!"
Cael nodded and charged again, sliding across the dirt and slashing at one of the boar's legs. The beast stumbled briefly, giving Lyra an opening. She took it instantly, a swirl of light slicing across the weakened joint.
Lucien moved in close, driving his dagger into the creature's side to anchor its movement. The resistance almost tore the weapon from his hand, but he held firm. "Now, Cael!"
Cael roared, his sword glowing bright again. He swung downward with full force, striking the same wound Lyra had opened. The combined impact sent a heavy boom through the clearing as the boar let out a final shriek, collapsing onto the ground.
Silence followed, broken only by their heavy breathing. Dust settled slowly around them.
Cael lowered his weapon, chest rising and falling with deep breaths. "That took more out of me than I expected."
Lucien leaned on his sword, exhaling softly. "Good fight though. You kept your composure even when it got wild."
Cael grinned faintly. "You mean when you jumped in front of a charging boar like you had armor made of stone?"
Lucien chuckled. "Someone had to distract it."
They laughed briefly, the tension of the battle slipping away.
Lyra floated closer, her glow dimming slightly as she returned to her resting state. Lucien reached up and rested a hand just beneath her light, his expression softening. "You did great," he said quietly.
The wisp shimmered faintly, a ripple of warmth passing through their bond.
A familiar chime rang in Lucien's head.
▓▒░ [Resonance Link Increased +3% : 47% → 50%] ░▒▓
▓▒░ [New Passive Unlocked: Echo Sync — Shared Senses ] ░▒▓
Lucien smiled to himself. Each battle wasn't just survival, it was building something lasting. The stronger their bond, the more power they'd draw from each other.
Cael knelt by the corpse, pulling out his blade to carve the beast's core. "You know," he said between breaths, "this would be a lot easier if we had one of those Artisan class with us."
Lucien shrugged. "True, but we'd miss out on the learning."
Cael chuckled. "You call this learning. I call it punishment."
"You complain too much," Lucien replied lightly.
Once Cael pried the glowing brown core from the boar's chest, he wiped it clean and stored it away. Lucien meanwhile focused on the faint energy still pulsing from the corpse.
He raised his hand slightly, and the interface responded.
▓▒░ [Essence Extraction Initiated] ░▒▓
Thin strands of pale light lifted from the beast's body and flowed into Lucien's palm, absorbed by the Soulbinder Interface. The air shimmered faintly as the system responded.
▓▒░ [Essence Collected: +300 EP] ░▒▓
▓▒░ [Total Essence: 310 EP] ░▒▓
Lucien nodded, satisfied. Each hunt was worth the risk if it meant growing stronger.
Lyra floated beside him quietly, her soft glow pulsing in rhythm with his heartbeat. Through their bond, he felt her faint excitement, a shared ambition.
"Don't worry," he said softly. "We'll gather more soon. This is just the start."
Cael looked up from packing the remains. "You talk to her like she's a person."
Lucien gave him a small, knowing smile. "Maybe she is."
Cael blinked, then shrugged with a small laugh. "Fair enough. I've seen stranger things already."
When they finished gathering materials, Lucien turned toward the winding path ahead. The faint glow of other flares in the distance hinted that the others were still fighting, or retreating. He didn't plan to do either aimlessly.
He glanced at Cael. "We've played long enough. The first two fights were warm-ups. Let's start hunting like it matters."
Cael's grin widened, a glint of excitement in his eyes. "Now you're talking."
They checked their gear briefly, then moved on, their steps steady and sure. The faint hum of the rift filled the air again, but this time Lucien felt something different inside him, a clarity that came only from purpose.
Every victory meant growth. Every kill meant another chance to evolve.
Lyra's light pulsed faintly beside him, as if agreeing with his thoughts.
Lucien glanced her way and smiled. "Ready for the next one?"
The wisp flickered in response, brighter than before.
"Good," he said softly. "Then let's hunt."
And together, the trio vanished into the glowing mist of the rift, their rhythm steady. The sound of footsteps, faint laughter, and the quiet promise of strength echoing behind them.