Lucien closed the menu, essence settling back into stillness. His total reserves had dropped, but the power they'd gained more than made up for it.
Lyra floated closer and pressed against his chest, her light warm. Lucien chuckled and rested a hand against her, fingers brushing along her form as naturally as if she had fur.
"Hey," he said softly. "We're just getting started."
Her glow flared in response.
▒░ [Resonance Link Increased] ░▒▓
+3%
▒░ [Current Resonance Level: 55%] ░▒▓
Lucien felt it immediately. Not strength exactly, but clarity. Balance. The way his body responded felt smoother, lighter, like something heavy had been adjusted into place.
He straightened and looked ahead again.
The D rank beast was no longer strolling.
It had picked up speed.
Its steps were heavier now, more purposeful, the ground shaking faintly with each one. The air around it warped slightly, Aether pressure rolling outward in slow waves.
Lucien didn't move.
Didn't flinch.
He adjusted his grip on the dagger and tilted his head, studying the creature with open interest.
"Well," he said, calm and steady. "You're right on time."
Lyra drifted to his side, electricity crackling softly around her. She was eager, almost bouncing in place.
Lucien glanced at her and smiled.
"Same plan as always," he said. "We don't rush. We don't panic. We hit hard and we don't miss."
Lyra pulsed once.
Lucien stepped forward, boots scraping against stone as he took his stance. His heart was steady now, his mind clear.
Fear was there, sure. It always was.
But it didn't own him.
They stood together, waiting, confident, as the D rank closed the distance and the Rift seemed to hold its breath.
Lucien didn't move as the beast came fully into view.
He studied it the way a hunter studied prey, calm and patient, eyes tracing every detail before the fight even began.
It was a Dire Wolf.
Not the thin, mangy kind from stories meant to scare children, but the kind every Awakened learned about early on. Large enough to carry a rider if it wanted to, its body was wrapped in dark gray fur streaked with black, the strands stiff and bristling as if charged with aether. Its eyes burned a dull amber, sharp and alert, and faint vapor escaped its jaws with every slow breath.
Runes had formed naturally along its limbs, jagged patterns glowing faintly beneath the fur. Its claws were thick, curved, and stained dark from old blood, while its fangs were too long for its mouth, forcing its lips back into something that looked permanently hostile.
Popular. Familiar. Dangerous.
"A Dire Wolf," Lucien said quietly. "Figures."
Lyra drifted closer, her glow tightening, almost sharpening as she took in the beast. She didn't growl or hiss. She simply waited.
The wolf lowered its body slightly, muscles coiling beneath its frame. It wasn't charging yet. It was measuring.
Just like Lucien was.
The system chimed softly in his mind.
▒░ [Monster Analysis Available]
Target Detected: Rift Beast
Rank: D
Recommendation: Initiate Analysis Interface] ░▒▓
Lucien's lips curved upward.
"Go ahead," he said. "Let's see what you're worth."
The interface unfolded smoothly before his eyes, translucent and clean, layering information over the beast as if the world itself were tagging it.
▒░ [Monster Analysis Interface]
Name: Dire Wolf
Rank: D
Threat Level: High
Behavior Pattern: Pack Predator (Solo Variant)
Traits Detected:
• Enhanced Muscle Density
• Aether Reinforced Hide
• Tactical Adaptation
Active Skills:
• Shadow Lunge: High speed leap targeting blind spots
• Crushing Bite: Focused jaw strength capable of breaking reinforced armor
• Howl of Pressure: Aether burst that disrupts balance and focus] ░▒▓
Lucien skimmed through it, eyes sharp.
"So you're smart," he murmured. "That's fine. I like smart."
He dismissed the interface with a thought and met the wolf's gaze again. This time, he smiled openly.
"All I see is five hundred EP walking toward me," he said. "And maybe a new trick for my partner."
Lyra pulsed, excitement flickering through their bond.
The Dire Wolf snarled and suddenly moved.
At first it was slow, deliberate steps, then its stride lengthened and its muscles expanded visibly as it pulled in air, lungs flaring wide. The ground cracked beneath its paws.
Then it exploded forward.
Lucien felt it more than he saw it. The pressure, the killing intent, the way the world seemed to narrow as the beast closed the distance in a heartbeat.
"Phantom Rush," he said calmly.
Lyra vanished.
She reappeared in a blur of motion, streaking sideways just as the Dire Wolf lunged. Its claws carved through the space where Lucien had been standing, the impact sending shards of stone flying.
The difference hit Lucien immediately.
E ranks were fast, but this was something else. The Dire Wolf adjusted mid air, twisting its body to correct its trajectory. Its claws grazed Lucien's coat, tearing fabric instead of flesh by the narrowest margin.
"Yeah," Lucien muttered. "That's new."
He rolled back, boots skidding, and pointed sharply.
"Static Arc. Don't overcommit."
Lyra reacted instantly.
Lightning snapped through the air, branching as it struck the wolf's flank. The electricity crawled along its body, making the beast howl as its muscles spasmed.
But it didn't collapse.
It dug its claws into the ground, fur standing on end as it endured the shock, amber eyes locked onto Lucien with something close to anger.
"That's what I'm talking about," Lucien said, a thrill sparking in his chest. "You can take a hit."
The Dire Wolf answered with a roar.
A pulse of aether rippled outward as it activated Howl of Pressure. The ground shook, Lucien's balance wavered, and his vision blurred for half a second.
He clicked his tongue.
"Earthen Pulse. Now."
Lyra slammed into the ground, releasing the shockwave. The kinetic burst shattered the pressure field and staggered the Dire Wolf mid stride, its paws slipping as the ground buckled beneath it.
Lucien moved.
He darted forward, dagger flashing as he slashed across the wolf's shoulder. The blade barely pierced the reinforced hide, but it was enough to draw blood.
The Dire Wolf snapped at him instantly, jaws closing where his head had been moments earlier.