The Author's Viewpoint-Chapter 123 - Fangbound Mantle

[ Name: Fang – Shadow Wolf ]

[ Grade: Elite ]

[ Level: 29 ]

[ Element: Shadow (High) ]

Yes... Level 29.

Tave’s eyes gleamed as he confirmed Fang’s status. The growth was brutal. But it made perfect sense. They had been consistently taking down Tier 5 monsters, while Fang himself was still Tier 3. The experience gained had been off the charts.

It was no exaggeration. Fang was rapidly closing the gap.

And now, he was just one step away from Tier 4.

If that breakthrough happened, it would shift the entire team dynamic. Fang would become a proper frontline combatant, not just a scout or a shadow-stalker, but a true fighter.

Tave took the soul stone and placed it gently on the ground.

"Go ahead," he said with a quiet grin. "This one’s yours."

Fang lowered his head, and he touched his nose to it.

The soul stone reacted instantly. Energy pulsed outward in slow, steady waves as Fang absorbed its contents.

Tave watched, and, like always, it brought a strange sense of peace. There was something deeply satisfying about seeing Fang grow, about knowing the beast he’d raised was evolving right beside him.

Monster Soul Stones were precious, not just rare, but deeply effective. And in the hands of a bonded beast, they could push development to the next level.

At the very least, Fang would hit level 30.

And if they were lucky, he’d break through to Tier 4.

But no matter what, Tave knew, this would be another leap forward.

Tave waited for a while as the energy continued to coil around Fang’s body, until... what he had been waiting for finally arrived.

[ Beast Companion Level Up! ]

[ New Sigil Acquired! ]

[ Sigil Name: Fangbound Mantle ]

[ Armor forged from the beast’s shadow. Grants the tamer a lupine armor that boosts defense and reflexes. Reacts to danger with a fear-inducing howl. ]

Wait... a new sigil?

Tave leaned forward, his breath catching as a faint glow shimmered in Fang’s left eye.

"Oh?" Tave murmured, squinting slightly. "The sigil’s in your eye, Fang?"

He blinked, stunned for a moment as the notification from earlier replayed in his mind.

This sigil... allows Fang to transform into elemental armor for me?

Tave hesitated, reading through the description again.

"Technically, Fang shouldn’t be able to use this yet unless he’s Tier 4..." he muttered. "But still..."

He glanced at the wolf. "Fang. Try activating the sigil. Can you do it?"

Fang growled softly in response. His left eye glowed brighter, and suddenly, black energy began to swirl around him like a cloak of shadow.

For a second, Tave’s heart leapt.

But...

Nothing happened.

The shadow energy flickered, hesitated... and then faded.

Fang stood still, panting lightly, eyes still faintly glowing. But the transformation didn’t complete.

Tave exhaled, then chuckled quietly. "Alright. Looks like we’ll have to wait a little longer. Once you break into Tier 4, I bet that armor form will kick in fully."

He reached forward and rubbed behind Fang’s ears. "Still... level 30. That’s no small thing. We’re almost there."

Tave leaned back, a wide grin spreading across his face. Between his own progress and Fang’s, things were finally starting to come together.

Just a little more. Just a few more pushes.

But then Tave paused, a new thought rising as the excitement settled.

Wait... if Fang can either fight on his own or become armor for me... which one is more effective?

He crossed his arms, mind already weighing both possibilities.

When Fang fought alone, he was a pure Shadow Wolf, agile, evasive, lethal in the dark. His style was instinctive: vanish, stalk, strike, vanish again.

It was efficient, but also a little... predictable. Shadow beasts had very linear combat instincts. They excelled at sneak attacks and quick finishes, but they struggled with adaptability.

And that was the weakness of monsters, even tamed ones. Their tactics were simple. Repetitive. They didn’t evolve mid-fight like awakened humans did.

But if Fang could enhance Tave instead, if that sigil allowed a fusion into armor, then that would be something far more dynamic.

Tave would gain Fang’s speed, his stealth, and his shadow traits layered over his own. Not just an extra edge. But a full-scale enhancement.

He’d be like stepping into another tier of combat entirely.

"Yeah..." Tave murmured to himself. "That would be a real stage shift."

Almost like leveling up, without even needing the system to say so.

Of course, he couldn’t test it yet.

Tave stood up, brushing the dust from his clothes before walking out of the cave, his steps calm but purposeful.

This would be the last time they could use this strategy.

Luring monsters into the cave had worked brilliantly. But only because of the presence of the Lunaris Bloom. And, the flowers were nearly gone. Just one more night. After that, the energy field they relied on would be depleted.

The plan had a limit.

If only we could find another cave like this, Tave thought, eyes scanning the moonlit sky as he stepped into the cold air outside. But after two full weeks of relentless hunting, they’d scoured most of the mountain paths. What they’d accomplished was nothing short of phenomenal.

But the work wasn’t finished.

Tave raised his left hand, eyes narrowing with focus. With a sharp pull of Gaia Force, his Soul Fire ignited. Now larger, fiercer, burning with a deep-black blaze that wrapped around his entire forearm.

This was the upgraded version, amplified by Blaze. It danced like a living serpent around his hand, ready to burn through whatever enemy dared stand before him.

And once again... the hunt began.

Like every night before, they triggered the lure. Monsters came. Driven by instinct, by scent, by challenge.

And like before, they were led into the trap.

One last time.

Tave, the team, the cave. It all worked in seamless harmony. Monsters weakened. Trapped.

And then came the slaughter.

Quick. Brutal. Efficient.

They executed the plan one final time... and once again, they won.

The next morning, the team was fully recovered and ready. With the cave no longer viable, they gathered at the entrance, checking their gear and grinning as they compared the upgrades and progress they’d earned over the past two intense weeks.

"Two level-ups in just one run? That’s insane!" Finn shouted proudly. "I feel like a walking fortress!"

"What about you, Velion?" Darian called out, smirking. "Why haven’t you broken through to Gaia Grand Master yet?"

Velion gave a faint smile and nodded slightly. "I’m trying. It’s close. Really close."

Elowen groaned dramatically. "If we could just push Velion into Grand Master already, everything would be so much easier."

Darian chimed in, stretching his arms lazily. "Don’t forget. Fang is right on the edge of Tier 4, too. I’m betting within the next week we’ll get a huge power spike from both Velion and Fang."

At that, Finn suddenly threw an arm over Tave’s shoulder, grinning wickedly. "And what about Tave? He’s gonna be the last one left behind, huh? Still stuck as a humble Gaia Guardian!"

The others burst into laughter. ƒгeewёbnovel.com

Tave just gave a dry smile, letting the teasing pass.

Soon after, they all set off together, moving with steady pace and fresh energy. The cave had served its purpose, and now it was time to move on.

Next, they would explore the area below the mountains, and hope they wouldn’t encounter any demons before they could get the upgrades they needed.