Water streamed down Moon's body as she climbed up the riverbank, the river still murmuring behind her as if lamenting her departure. Sunlight filtered through the tall leaves, painting her skin with golden highlights. Lyan climbed up shortly after, silent, watching her with that feline attention that seemed to go beyond mere sight.
Moon twisted her wet hair back.
Lyan didn't look away. Nor did he try.
She opened her inventory, and the pieces appeared with a soft glow. She first put on the black outfit she had chosen—soft cotton, delicate lace, a classic charm that embraced her quiet elegance. Lyan blinked slowly, fascinated, as if witnessing a dangerous ritual.
Moon slid into the black cargo pants and pulled on the compression tactical top, which fit over the tree mark on her back as if it recognized it. Then, the women's tactical boots; sturdy, ready for any terrain. Fingerless gloves came last, fitting like natural extensions of her hands.
Then she picked up the tactical military belt.
She wrapped it around her waist with a slow turn, adjusting the fit, and the final click echoed softly. She then holstered her weapon with almost predatory precision. Every movement seemed to carry a silent promise. Lyan swallowed hard.
[Boing: [SYSTEM] Aesthetic detection: 99%. Recommend: do not let Lyan collapse immediately. Activate "Mute blush" function? (seriously, still not invented).]
Moon: "Oh, come on, Boing. Save that humor for when I'm hunting a dragon. Let him admire what's his, kakaka."
[Boing: 'Sexy hunter' has been registered to your profile, akakkaka. Suggestion: sun glare mask so you don't blind others' jealousy alarms.]
Only then did she look at him.
"Your turn."
Lyan was holding the black underwear Moon had offered earlier. His expression was a mix of confusion, embarrassment, and pure curiosity.
"Does... this cover that much?" he murmured, frowning.
Moon almost laughed but approached and helped him put it on. The fabric molded to his strong body as it should—and Lyan froze like a statue.
"Now you're mine," she said, with a crooked smile. "I don't want other females looking at what's mine."
Lyan's face turned as red as the fruit he had eaten the day before.
"But my leather vest..."
Moon rolled her eyes.
Determined like a stubborn male, he put his traditional vest back on: leather straps tied around the waist, covering only the essentials and leaving the legs completely free. The underwear remained underneath, to Moon's silent relief.
He finished tying the straps when BOING chimed.
[STATUS UPDATED]
[Lyan Attraction: 92%
New missions available.]
Moon blinked twice and let out a satisfied giggle.
Before heading to the village, she opened SHOPPING ALL.
The interface unfolded like a floating crystal panel.
She bought:
• WORLD MAP — 100,000 points
• DANGER RADAR — 50,000 points
The air around seemed to vibrate.
[Boing: [SHOPPING ALL] World Map loading...]
The holographic screen opened before her like a pulsating crystal. But instead of revealing the world, only a small circle around Moon glowed blue. The rest remained completely black, covered by living mist that moved slowly.
["WORLD MAP activated. Unknown area. Explore to reveal."]
[Boing: Oops, surprise: you'll have to explore. Cool, right? Adventures!]
Moon smiled, and the smile tasted exactly like adventure.
"Perfect."
[Boing: You'll have fun and I'll vibrate with every crystal you convert to points.]
The second panel opened like a crimson ring around her body. The air grew dense. A pulse ran through her skin, as if the environment were holding its breath.
[Threats detected. Initial sensitivity activated.]
Moon raised an eyebrow.
"Already?"
The response came immediately: a thick, sinuous shape slithering through the shadows.
The serpent—colossal, eyes like blades, wet dark-brown scales—struck.
Moon moved before Lyan could react.
A spin, a strike, the dagger descending with precision. The serpent shuddered and fell, its heavy body shaking the surrounding leaves.
She wiped the blade, touched the corpse with her fingertips, and stored it in the warehouse with a mental command.
Lyan stood still, blinking not once.
"You... killed a level 4 wild beast with one hand... again..." His voice was pure disbelief. "And smiled doing it."
Moon shrugged.
"It wasn't big enough to be troublesome."
He looked at her as if seeing a wild deity.
[RADAR: Combat data absorbed. Initial learning complete.]
In a conspiratorial tone.
[Boing: [NOTIF] Lyan Attraction +2%. Recommend: emotional credit and snack.]
Moon: "Stop monitoring everything."
[Boing: Never. I'm glued to your forehead. Scientific curiosity requires data.]
They then continued together through the tall vegetation.
Lyan walked ahead but always looked over his shoulder—sometimes to guide her, sometimes to ensure she remained close.
He pointed out ground marks, scratches on trunks, nearly invisible trails.
Moon observed everything with a hunger for knowledge.
Meanwhile, the System projected small pieces of information at the corner of her vision:
• Terrain density
• Environmental risk
• Microclimate
• Possible routes
Moon shared human hunting techniques and wind-reading skills, and Lyan listened with intense attention, as if every word were rare.
From time to time, she poked his waist deliberately.
He twitched his ears and feigned dignity.
And Moon delighted in every reaction.
The Radar whispered light alerts, while the Map illuminated fragments along the path, as if the world were revealing itself step by step beneath their feet.
The forest began to open. The smell of earth changed. The light grew broader.
Moon noticed the first structures: wooden platforms, rope ladders, large dens reinforced with stones. The sounds of work, training, and wildlife echoed.
Lyan walked ahead with straight posture, but his tail betrayed nervousness—it trembled slightly at the tip.
When they entered the main clearing, everything froze.
Ferans turned.
All of them.
Huge males, intense, with impossibly colored eyes.
They locked eyes on her as if seeing something forbidden.
One feran lifted his nose.
"What is that smell...?"
"Smell... clean... attractive..."
"Her hair... look at the shine..."
"She... is beautiful."
The word dropped like a spark in gunpowder.
Several began to approach, instinctively drawn.
Moon felt their attention run over her skin like heat.
Lyan moved.
Not away.
Not to hide.
But to stand in front of her.
Between her and everyone else.
A short growl escaped his throat—deep, low, dangerous.
Enough to silence the entire clearing.
Even Lyan seemed surprised by the sound he made.
"Back off." His voice came cold, territorial. "She's with me."
Absolute silence.
Lyan "the weak" was facing all of them—a foreign female.
Moon blinked.
Lyan blinked.
And his soul seemed to leave his body for a second, completely incredulous at what he had just said.
He cleared his throat, trying to adjust his voice.
"I found her in the forest. She... doesn't know our rules. If you surround her like this, she might run and be eaten by some beast."
A terrible excuse.
Everyone knew it.
His tail was bristling... almost brushing her leg.
Pure instinct.
Raw protection.
Several males exchanged shocked glances at the warning.
And Moon realized that, for the first time, Lyan saw something very simple:
He didn't want to share.
Not at all.
The village murmur continued, a dance of primitive sounds and wild energy, while Lyan guided Moon between wooden houses and ferans who still threw long looks at her.
But none dared approach again.
At every step, Lyan kept his body slightly ahead of hers, as if instinct pushed him to protect her from his own people.
They stopped in front of the largest structure in the village:
an immense den carved into the trunk of an ancient tree. Ancient runes shimmered in a living pattern around the entrance, like breaths of light.
Lyan took a deep breath.
Lyan:
This is the Elder's den. Stay behind me. He hates... surprises.
Moon didn't comment; she only watched him pull aside the curtain of furs.
The interior was vast, lit by crystals embedded in the ceiling. In the center, seated on an altar of intertwined roots, was the Elder—colossal, with large antlers that seemed like living crowns. When he lifted his gaze, his amber eyes shone with astonishment.
Elder:
...By the Ancients. A female so pure... and a scent untouched by our world.
He gestured for her to approach.
Elder:
Child, what species are you?
Moon opened her mouth, but Lyan positioned himself almost in front of her, instinctively protective.
Lyan:
She won't say because she doesn't know. I found her alone in the forest.
The Elder tilted his head and sniffed the air—as any superior beast would.
Elder:
No marks. No tribal scent. No mating bond.
He touched his chin.
You are truly... unclaimed.
Lyan froze like stone.
Moon narrowed her eyes, but before she could speak, the Elder raised his hand.
His voice became grave, loaded with the authority of centuries.
Elder:
Listen carefully, foreign female. Our world has rules older than any tribe.
He raised three fingers.
Females do not hunt. Males provide.
Elder:
Adult females in the tribe must have at least one male.
Without a companion, you cannot stay.
Moon:
Why...?
Elder:
Males bring meat from the hunt. Males gather fruit.
Males build shelters.
Males defend against wild beasts.
His voice softened, almost reverent.
A female chooses wisely... and survives.
Lyan looked at the ground, but his fingers were clenched.
Companions do everything for the female.
Elder:
Companions carry the hunt, warm you at night if needed, protect, feed, carry if necessary.
Lyan murmured, almost embarrassed:
Lyan:
Some females abuse this...
The Elder gave a stern, yet not hostile, look.
Elder:
Some. Not all.
Tribe currency: Primordial Crystals.
He raised a shining crystal. It pulsed with living light.
Elder:
"This is a primordial crystal used for trade; they grow where the blood of powerful beasts is spilled.
They are mainly found in deep caves."
Moon analyzed the crystal... and then:
[SYSTEM UPDATED: TRADE INTERFACE UNLOCKED]
A transparent table appeared: Primordial Crystals are rare, powerful minerals from the Beast World, formed in areas of high spiritual energy or where the blood of powerful beasts has been spilled. They function as tribal currency and evolution resources, usable for:
Trade and commerce — with tribes, ferans, or through the Shopping All system.
Upgrades and equipment — to enhance weapons, armor, or special items.
Status recording — each crystal has a rank, indicating value, rarity, and power:
CRYSTAL RANKS
F – Gray (5 pts)
E – Brown (20 pts)
D – Light Gray (50 pts)
C – Blue (300 pts)
B – Green (1,500 pts)
A – Red (10,000 pts)
S – Gold (50,000 pts)
SS – Silver with blue aura (120,000 pts)
SSS – Multicolor Prism (300,000 pts)
They store spiritual energy that can be absorbed to strengthen skills or equipment and are essential for major missions and feran evolution.
Moon moved the holographic window aside and refocused on the conversation.
Elder:
Crystals can buy anything. A female normally receives crystals from her companions.
Moon reflected. No companions. No crystals. No survival. But not for her.
Lyan's jaw tightened.
Elder:
You can trade meat for hides, herbs for tools... but crystals are universal. Females usually receive more crystals if their companions are strong.
He paused, studying her again.
Elder:
Since you don't have a companion, you must choose one.
Moon:
I understand the rules.
But I want to make it clear: I can hunt.
The room grew tense.
Moon continued, firm and calm:
Moon:
Even if I have a companion... I will participate in the hunts.
I am not defenseless.
The Elder studied her more deeply, as if trying to see the truth within her, leaning back, his antlered head raised imposingly. His amber eyes studied her, slightly impressed.
Elder:
Very few females have the instinct or strength to attempt this. If you choose this path, you must complete the Trial to prove your capability. Only then will the tribe accept your independence... You must prove your capacity. I cannot put a female at risk; you will undergo a test. I will summon the council.
He gestured to the large wooden bowl between them. Crystals of all colors shimmered softly in the dim light.
Elder:
Females without a companion are rare. To fully integrate, you will need to complete the Companion Ceremony at some point. The ceremony binds you to a male: the act marks your body with a tattoo symbolizing his species. You may have as many companions as you wish—but stronger and more numerous companions ensure your protection against wild beasts.
At that moment, Lyan swallowed hard, the hairs on his tail bristling as if some ancestral part of him had awakened. He took a deep breath.
[Boing (mentally whispering): If needed, I can project a giant hammer sound to intimidate the jury. But that would be unethical and fun.]
Moon: "No hammer."
[Boing: Tsk. You said 'no hammer' and I was already making a GIF.]