The Crimson Hollow's boss chamber pulsed with an eerie red glow, the air heavy with the lingering chill of Skoll's *Frost Aura*. Zane Aldric stood before the hidden altar, its obsidian surface etched with runes that flickered like dying stars. The System's warning still burned in his vision: *[CLASS EVOLUTION OPPORTUNITY DETECTED. ACTIVATE HIDDEN ALTAR?]* His new B-rank Ice Spear felt cold and alive in his grip, its blue shaft humming with power that synced with Skoll's icy essence. The Adolescent Fenrir, now the size of a large dog, paced beside him, his upgraded *Glacial Howl* ability itching to be tested. At level 4, Zane, Mira, and Toren had just cleared a level 10 dungeon against the odds, their teamwork turning a Crimson Boar into loot and experience. But this altar? It was a curveball, a chance to push his SSS-rank Beast Tamer class toward something even greater—maybe a step toward the mythical God Rank.
Mira, her B-rank Alchemist satchel slung low, wiped sweat from her freckled brow. "Zane, you sure about this? That altar's giving me bad vibes. Like, 'trap that'll turn us into spider food' vibes."
Toren, his A-rank Shield Warden frame looming, adjusted his dented rune shield. "She's not wrong. Dungeons don't just hand out class evolutions. There's always a catch." His *Iron Bastion* Talent had kept them alive against the boar, but his brown eyes were wary, scanning the chamber for threats.
Zane's gamer instincts screamed opportunity. In his old life on a quiet Earth, he'd hunted rare achievements, scouring forums for secrets to break games wide open. This altar was no different—a hidden quest, a chance to exploit the System's edges. "We didn't come this far to back out," he said, meeting Skoll's glowing blue eyes. The Fenrir's tail flicked, eager. "Skoll's ready. I'm ready. You in?"
Mira groaned, pulling a Healing Salve from her satchel. "You're gonna owe me so many potions for this, wolf boy."
Toren chuckled, raising his shield. "Lead on, crazy. Let's see what the System's got."
Zane approached the altar, Skoll at his side. The runes pulsed faster, their light syncing with his heartbeat. He glanced at his updated status panel, the System's blue window flaring in his mind:
---
**[Status Panel]**
**Zane Aldric**
- **Class**: Beast Tamer (SSS-rank)
- **Level**: 4
- **Skills**: Beast Command (Reaction speed and precision +25%), Tamer's Insight (Reveals hidden weaknesses, 10% chance to identify critical hit points)
- **Talent**: Frostfang Pact (Ice damage +15%, cold resistance +15%; Zane and Skoll share ice affinity)
- **Beast**: Skoll (Adolescent Fenrir, Level 4)
- **Abilities**: Ice Bite (Freeze chance +40%), Frost Aura (Enemy speed reduction +15%), Glacial Howl (Stuns enemies in a 10-meter radius, 10-second cooldown)
- **Evolution Progress**: 10/50 kills, 7/100 mana crystals for next stage
- **Equipment**: Ice Spear (B-rank, +20 attack, +10% ice damage)
**Mira Veyne**
- **Class**: Alchemist (B-rank)
- **Level**: 4
- **Skills**: Potion Craft (Recipes: Acid Bomb, Flame Vial, Healing Salve), Explosive Toss (Potion throw accuracy +15%)
- **Talent**: Catalyst Surge (Potion potency +20%, crafting time -10%)
- **Equipment**: Alchemy Satchel (C-rank, +10 storage)
**Toren Kade**
- **Class**: Shield Warden (A-rank)
- **Level**: 4
- **Skills**: Shield Bash (Knockback distance +10%), Fortified Stance (Stability +20% when blocking)
- **Talent**: Iron Bastion (Defense +25%, damage reduction +15%)
- **Equipment**: Rune Shield (B-rank, +20 defense, +10% physical resistance)
---
Zane dismissed the panel, his focus on the altar. Skoll's *Glacial Howl* was a game-changer, and his *Tamer's Insight* had already sniffed out the hidden path to this chamber. If this altar could evolve his class, he might unlock new skills, maybe even a second beast slot before level 20. The thought of taming Jörmungandr or Cerberus early sent a thrill through him.
He pressed his hand to the altar. The runes blazed, and the System's voice echoed, not just in his mind but aloud, shaking the chamber: *[BEAST TAMER CLASS EVOLUTION TRIAL INITIATED. CHALLENGE: DEFEAT THE SHADOW OF THE WILD. REWARD: CLASS UPGRADE, UNIQUE TALENT. FAILURE: SEALED CLASS POTENTIAL.]*
The ground rumbled, and a rift tore open in the chamber's center. A creature emerged—a spectral wolf, twice Skoll's size, its fur black as void, eyes burning crimson. The System flagged it: *[SHADOW OF THE WILD: LEVEL 8. WEAKNESS: ICE, LIGHT. RESISTANCE: PHYSICAL, DARK.]* Zane's grip tightened on his Ice Spear. Level 8 was tough, but Skoll's ice affinity was a perfect counter.
"Mira, light potions!" Zane shouted. "Toren, tank its front. Skoll and I hit from behind!"
Mira nodded, pulling a glowing vial—her new *Light Salve*, crafted after leveling. "On it!" She tossed it, the vial bursting into a radiant flash that made the shadow wolf snarl. Toren charged, his *Shield Bash* slamming into the beast's muzzle, drawing its aggro. His *Iron Bastion* glowed, absorbing a claw swipe that sparked against his shield.
Zane activated *Tamer's Insight*, a faint glow highlighting the wolf's hindquarters as a critical point. "Skoll, *Ice Bite*, back legs!" The Fenrir lunged, his fangs sinking into the shadow's leg, ice spreading like cracks in glass. The beast howled, its movements slowing under Skoll's *Frost Aura*. Zane thrust his Ice Spear, the B-rank weapon slicing into the critical point, black ichor spraying. The System pinged: *[CRITICAL HIT. +20% DAMAGE.]*
The shadow wolf spun, its jaws snapping at Zane. Toren intercepted, his *Fortified Stance* locking him in place as he blocked the bite. Mira hurled an Acid Bomb, her *Catalyst Surge* making it sizzle through the wolf's flank, weakening its spectral hide. Skoll darted in, his *Glacial Howl* erupting—a bone-rattling cry that stunned the beast for precious seconds. Zane seized the moment, thrusting his spear into its neck. The shadow dissolved into mist, the rift snapping shut.
The System chimed: *[SHADOW OF THE WILD DEFEATED. CLASS EVOLUTION TRIAL COMPLETED. BEAST TAMER UPGRADED: MYTHIC BEAST TAMER (SSS-RANK). NEW TALENT: WILD SYNERGY (INCREASES BEAST ABILITY POTENCY BY 10% WHEN FIGHTING ALONGSIDE ALLIES). LEVEL UP: ZANE, LEVEL 5. SKOLL, LEVEL 5. MIRA, LEVEL 5. TOREN, LEVEL 5.]*
Zane's breath caught. *Mythic* Beast Tamer? The System's panel updated:
---
**[Status Panel]**
**Zane Aldric**
- **Class**: Mythic Beast Tamer (SSS-rank)
- **Level**: 5
- **Skills**: Beast Command (Reaction speed and precision +30%), Tamer's Insight (Weakness detection +15%), Wild Call (New: Boosts beast morale, increasing attack speed by 10% for 30 seconds, 1-minute cooldown)
- **Talents**: Frostfang Pact (Ice damage +15%, cold resistance +15%), Wild Synergy (Beast ability potency +10% with allies)
- **Beast**: Skoll (Adolescent Fenrir, Level 5)
- **Abilities**: Ice Bite (Freeze chance +45%), Frost Aura (Enemy speed reduction +18%), Glacial Howl (Stun duration +1 second)
- **Evolution Progress**: 11/50 kills, 7/100 mana crystals
- **Equipment**: Ice Spear (B-rank, +20 attack, +10% ice damage)
**Mira Veyne**
- **Class**: Alchemist (B-rank)
- **Level**: 5
- **Skills**: Potion Craft (New recipe: Light Salve), Explosive Toss (Accuracy +20%), Quick Brew (New: Reduces potion crafting time by 15%)
- **Talent**: Catalyst Surge (Potion potency +20%, crafting time -10%)
**Toren Kade**
- **Class**: Shield Warden (A-rank)
- **Level**: 5
- **Skills**: Shield Bash (Knockback distance +15%), Fortified Stance (Stability +25%), Rallying Stand (New: Boosts ally defense by 10% for 20 seconds, 1-minute cooldown)
- **Talent**: Iron Bastion (Defense +25%, damage reduction +15%)
---
Zane grinned, the rush of leveling up electric. *Wild Synergy* was a party buff, amplifying Skoll's abilities when fighting with Mira and Toren. Skoll bounded to him, nuzzling his leg, his *Frost Aura* stronger now, chilling the air. The altar dimmed, its runes fading, but a single item remained—a silver amulet etched with a wolf's head. The System flagged it: *[AMULET OF THE WILD: B-RANK. +10% BEAST ABILITY POTENCY, +5% MANA REGENERATION.]*
"Jackpot," Zane said, slipping it on. The amulet pulsed, syncing with Skoll's energy. Mira whistled, eyeing it enviously.
"That's worth a month's rent," she said. "You're buying dinner."
Toren laughed, slinging his shield over his back. "We're unstoppable now. Level 5, new skills, and you're some *Mythic* Beast Tamer? Rhea's gonna lose it."
Zane's smile faltered. Rhea Solis, the S-rank Dragon Rider, and Dren Varkus, the A-rank Storm Lancer, were waiting back in Luminaris. The training arena loomed—a public stage where they'd try to crush him. His *Mythic* upgrade and Skoll's new *Glacial Howl* gave him an edge, but a baby dragon and a lightning spear weren't pushovers.
---
Back in Luminaris, the trio stumbled into the *Iron Fang* tavern, exhausted but buzzing. The barkeep, a grizzled C-rank Cook, slid them plates of roasted boar—ironic, given their dungeon haul. Skoll gnawed a bone under the table, his larger frame drawing stares from other patrons. Zane's new amulet gleamed, and his Ice Spear leaned against his chair, catching eyes. Adventurers whispered, word of the SSS-rank Beast Tamer spreading like wildfire.
Mira sipped her ale, grinning. "You're famous now, wolf boy. Bet the nobles are sweating."
Zane shrugged, but his mind was on the arena. "They can sweat all they want. I'm not here to play nice."
Toren leaned in, voice low. "Heard Rhea's been training her dragon non-stop. And Dren's got a new spear—some A-rank lightning thing his dad gave him. They're gunning for you."
Before Zane could respond, a familiar figure slipped through the crowd—Lia, the S-rank Shadow Dancer, her black outfit blending with the tavern's shadows. Her violet eyes locked on Zane, unreadable. "Aldric," she said, her voice a soft blade. "You're moving fast. Too fast."
Zane met her gaze, unfazed. "Got a problem with that?"
Lia's lips twitched, almost a smile. "Not me. But the nobles? They don't like upstarts. And that altar you triggered? It's got eyes on you now. Big ones." She vanished with her *Phantom Step* Talent, leaving only a faint chill.
Mira shivered. "Okay, she's creepy. What's her deal?"
"No idea," Zane said, but Lia's words gnawed at him. Eyes? The System? The Will of the Earth? Or something worse? He pushed it aside, focusing on his panel. Level 5, new skills, a stronger Skoll. The Luminaris Trials were months away, a city-wide gauntlet to qualify for Aetherion Academy. He needed to grind, tame more beasts, maybe even hit level 20 for Jörmungandr. But first, the arena. Rhea and Dren wanted a fight. He'd give them one.
---
That night, Zane stood on his apartment's tiny balcony, Skoll sprawled beside him, the city's neon runes painting the sky. The amulet hummed against his chest, amplifying Skoll's power. He opened the System's quest log: *[PREPARE FOR THE ARENA CHALLENGE. DEFEAT RIVALS TO EARN RECOGNITION. REWARD: SYSTEM FAVOR, RARE MATERIALS.]*
System favor? That was new. Maybe a currency, maybe a stat boost. Either way, it was another edge. Zane's old life as a gamer taught him to chase every advantage, and this world was no different. Rhea's dragon, Dren's spear, Lia's secrets—they were all pieces on the board. He'd outplay them all.
Skoll nudged his hand, whining softly. Zane knelt, meeting the Fenrir's eyes. "We're just getting started, buddy. You ready to show them what a *Mythic* Beast Tamer can do?"
Skoll's *Glacial Howl* echoed, a low rumble that shook the balcony's railing, drawing startled looks from neighbors below. Zane laughed, the sound carrying into the night. Somewhere in the city, a dragon's roar answered, faint but unmistakable. Rhea was awake. The game was on.
But as Zane turned to head inside, the System pinged, unprompted, its voice colder than ever: *[WARNING: ANOMALY DETECTED. UNKNOWN ENTITY OBSERVING. PROCEED WITH CAUTION.]*
Zane froze, his hand on Skoll's fur. The city's lights flickered, just for a second, as if the world itself blinked.