"... and a while after that, Rosafey and her companion athen were seen returning to the Pride Rock Station with the Titled Beast Blood Harvest following at their feet. The entire station nearly went into high alert seeing a Titled Beast appear at their door, but once it was established that it was tamed, everything calmed down. Yet the news of the event and the story of Rosafey spread like wildfire afterwards."

  Mister Rolf finished his long story with a sigh, leaning back in his chair on the porch.

  Onyx sat in silence for a moment, processing everything. Now He was fully caught up.

  Of course, he wasn't aware of what had truly transpired that day. No one was—only Rosafey and her confidants knew the real story. What he did know was the version built on people's fragmented knowledge of the events, shallow observations, and a few carefully placed testimonies from Rosafey herself to fill the gaps.

  Onyx exhaled slowly. "That's... quite a tale."

  Mister Rolf chuckled, shaking his head. "Aye, that it is. And now you know why that girl's name is on everyone's lips these days."

  Onyx sat quietly, deep in thought. He had just heard it, yet the story of Rosafey was already replaying in his head. His intrigue was less about Rosafey herself and more about her deeds.

  Subjugating a Titled Beast.

  Well, if that wasn't an accomplishment. And a very inspiring one at that.

  A thought began to take form in the depths of Onyx's mind. He turned it over, examined it from all angles, weighed its possibilities and its risks. The more he considered it, the more it solidified into something concrete. Something worth pursuing.

  After a long moment of contemplation, Onyx lifted his head. His eyes held a new light—a spark of decision that hadn't been there before.

  "Alright," he suddenly declared. "I've decided."

  Several days later, Onyx, Tusk, Miss Gabby, and Mister Rolf stood together near one of the station gates.

  As they gathered, Miss Gabby spoke first, her tone laced with concern. "Onyx, are you sure about this?"

  "Yes, ma'am," Onyx replied confidently.

  His response did little to ease her worry. She pressed on, trying to persuade him. "Onyx, you don't have to force yourself to do this. There's no shame in lagging behind in cultivation for a while. You can just stay at the station. With time, I'm sure you'll—"

  Before she could finish, Mister Rolf gently raised a hand, politely interrupting her pleading. "Gabby, there's no point in insisting otherwise. If the kid thinks this is what he needs, then let him do it."

  "But we don't know if that will actually help him—or if it might even harm him," Miss Gabby argued.

  Mister Rolf shrugged. "True, we don't know that. But it's certain that trying and failing couldn't do him more harm than not trying at all. And it could bring him more benefits than staying put ever will."

  "I know... still," Miss Gabby muttered, her reluctance evident in her downcast eyes.

  Mister Rolf then turned his gaze to Onyx. His old eyes studied the young man carefully, registering just how much he had grown in the short time they had spent together.

  "Alright, lad. Before we send you off, just remember one thing," he said.

  Onyx perked up, anticipating the old man's wisdom. "What's that?"

  "If you do this and then get beaten over the head afterwards, don't come crying back to us. 'Cause I would personally pretend not to know you."

  The old man's tone was flat, utterly deadpan.

  Onyx blinked, stunned for a moment—then burst into laughter. Mister Rolf followed right after, his rumbling chuckles joining the young man's.

  As the two laughed heartily, Miss Gabby pouted, smacking Onyx lightly on the chest. "What are you laughing for? He's right. Don't expect sympathy from us after running off to play cool."

  Onyx wiped at his teary eyes, still chuckling. "I'll keep that in mind."

  The laughter faded into comfortable silence. Goodbyes were exchanged—warm words, firm handshakes, one last worried look from Miss Gabby.

  Then Onyx and Tusk turned.

  They walked through the station gate, Onyx raising a hand in a final wave back at the two figures watching them go.

  Mister Rolf waved back. Miss Gabby did the same, her expression caught somewhere between pride and concern.

  And once the two were past the gate, they were off.

  And where, you might be wondering? Well.

  After having the story of Rosafey echo through his head, Onyx was thoroughly inspired by it. Like Rosafey, he wanted to face desperate odds and rise above them, gaining power that most Catalysers could only dream of. This was the kind of trial by fire he believed would help him and his beast break through their bottlenecks.

  However, don't be mistaken. Onyx wasn't thinking of hunting a Titled Beast of his own. No. He knew his limits. He knew that something like a Titled Beast would normally take nothing short of a small army to take down. He was neither inspired nor delusional enough to attempt such a thing.

  Even while seeking a challenge, Onyx knew his limitations.

  So instead of that, Onyx had set for himself the challenge of traveling the realm and hunting the most infamous species of beasts within it. A daunting challenge, yet one that remains within the realm of possibility for someone like him.

  Onyx didn't know how long it would take to complete this self-imposed trial, yet he believed that throwing themselves into such a crucible was the surest way to rise to their ambitions.

  And so the two were off—not to return to grey wood station until they had grown beyond recognition.

  The first days of their pilgrimage through the realm were uneventful. They traveled through the day and rested through the night.

  And though nothing had happened, Onyx couldn't help but feel wary and act extra vigilant at night. Not because of the obvious fact that the wilderness can be more dangerous after dark, but more because of the imprinted fear he had of the night—the result of his dramatic first night when he first traveled the realm.

  But luckily, like before, Tusk was there to comfort him with his presence. And unlike before, the two weren't as weak and helpless as they had been back then.

  Taking courage in this fact, it wasn't long before Onyx was able to cast away that shadow of fear in his mind.

  After exactly eight days of travel, the duo reached their first stop: Arrowhead Station, located much deeper within the Whisperwood Realm. Further from the spatial root connecting back to Earth, the station had a noticeably different atmosphere. There were no greenhorns here. Every Beast Catalyser in this place was already halfway through their development, slowly grinding away toward the next level.

  Once there, Onyx first took a break from his long journey. He rested, resupplied, and let Tusk recover from the trek.

  Then he got to work.

  He spent a day doing intelligence reconnaissance—gathering information, asking the right questions, listening to the right conversations. He learned which beasts were worth hunting, which territories to avoid, and which rumors held weight.

  When he had what he needed, he once again left the station.

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  Two days west on foot, traveling through increasingly dense and hostile wilderness, Onyx and Tusk finally reached the territory of thier first target.

  At that moment, Onyx and Tusk were both climbing the sides of a stone wall, gusts of wind blowing at them from the sides indicating they were pretty high up.

  Tusk had no difficulty climbing, but Onyx himself had to use the Pillar of Offense to strengthen his body and the Pillar of Defense to strengthen his hold and grip, just so he could keep up with his beast.

  Onyx could have easily had Tusk climb them both to the top, but he preferred to do it this way—as a form of training for both his body and his arts.

  After several hours of agonizing climb, they reached the top. Tusk wasn't even a bit tired, while Onyx had numb fingers and sore limbs.

  Standing at the top and looking around, one would be met with the sight of a series of jagged rock peaks rising way above the ground to a height that rivaled mountains. Each peak was like a giant pillar standing some distance from one another, each having a somewhat flat surface at their tops where one could stand—such as the one Onyx and Tusk were standing on right now.

  All of these factors combined created quite the complex and perilous terrain, where one slip-up meant a drop straight to the bottom.

  Amongst the Catalysers, this place was known as the Ramparts. And it was even more known for being the home to one infamous species of beasts , the Rampart Ram.

  The Rampart Rams were notorious for how hard they were to hunt and thus were a praised catch, especially for their horns which could be used as a catalyst .

  Once fully rested, Onyx didn't waste time. He immediately began the hunt. Using Hawk Eye, he scoured the nearby territory and soon spotted his target.

  Running across the stone walls of the ramparts and jumping across its peaks, a creature moved like the mountain wind. It resembled a mountain ram with sleek coppery fur and a dark back, its head crowned with two curly, shiny horns. Unbothered by the rugged terrain and the steep height, the creature moved as if it were flying.

  "As expected of a true born of these ramparts," Onyx remarked as he continued observing the creature's movement. He watched how it could tightly walk and stand on the thin edges of the stone walls as if glued to them. But even more impressive was when it seemed about to attempt a jump it couldn't possibly make—it would suddenly shoot forward with a burst of force, propelling itself across impossible gaps.

  After admiring the creature's grace for a bit longer, Onyx was ready to begin The confrontation .

  Immediately, he ordered Tusk to fly toward his target. As usual, he stayed behind to give orders from a distance.

  The air loudly buzzed and trembled as Tusk approached, easily alerting the ram before he could reach it—but it couldn't be helped.

  Noticing the approaching figure of Tusk, the ram hurriedly ran across the walls of the rampart before jumping and landing atop one of the peaks. Now with leveled standing ground, the creature took a battle stance—leaning forward and lowering its head, priming its horns for the coming clash.

  Tusk soon came to match the ram, landing atop the peak in front of it and taking a battle stance of his own.

  The two didn't face each other for long before the battle soon erupted.

  Tusk and the ram would then go on to fight and clash multiple times, with Tusk sadly always being on the losing end.

  At least through those many defeats, Onyx was able to deduce the ram's abilities thanks to Mystic Seer after several attempts.

  The ram had two simple abilities: [Ram Charge] and [Rampart Stance] .

  The first was a dash ability that worked by building up power within the body before unleashing it all at once. The ram's charging ability not only granted a burst of speed, but its charge contained a great deal of force and even created a field of pressure around the beast's body when used.

  This attack was too fast for the bulky Tusk to dodge, and it had such force behind it that even if Tusk could tank the damage, the recoil from the impact alone was always enough to send him flying.

  Countless times, Tusk was tossed from the peaks of the Ramparts. Even when he tried using a combination of [Core Strength] and [Kinetic Shift] to strengthen his limbs and his hold on the ground, he would still be sent flying by [Ram Charge]. Even if his body didn't relent, the floor he stood on would—chunks of rock being ripped from the ground as Tusk tried to hold his place, but to no avail.

  Such was the strength of this ability.

  Tusk would have already fallen to his end if not for the fact that he could fly—and if not for his monstrous constitution, which allowed him to handle the hammering the ram was giving him he would never be able to keep confronting the ram time and time again.

  The second ability, however, was the polar opposite of the first. This defensive ability allowed the ram to stand its place as if glued to the ground—as if it were part of the Ramparts itself.

  This meant that even if Tusk tried to take the initiative and attack first, he wouldn't be able to shake the beast, let alone strike it down.

  Any punch from his bulky fists or swing of his great horn was always met with a pair of sturdy horns that blocked every attack with the sturdiness of rock. That, combined with the beast's immovable posture, meant any damage Tusk tried to inflict would bounce right off—and even backlash from the recoil, like someone trying to punch a mountain.

  That was the ram's only two abilities. Usually, when a beast only had two tricks up its sleeve, Onyx would have been able to crack a way to overcome them. However, the tricky part here lay in the fact that the ram could use both abilities simultaneously.

  So while the ram was holding its ground with [Rampart Stance] , it would also be building up power for [Ram Charge] . This meant the moment Tusk's offense broke—or even just hesitated—the beast was always ready with a heavy counter.

  Only two simple abilities, yet they formed a tight, efficient system with no gaps to exploit.

  This is how Tusk kept losing so sorely. It was a pretty humbling experience, watching his totem beast—which he always saw as an icon of strength—get pathetically flicked off by the ram time and time again like a mere bug on a log.

  Yet sensing the fiery determination inside his beast to win, Onyx dared not think about quitting.

  So they kept at it all day and kept losing all day. This lasted until the break of dawn. Once darkness fell and visibility got bad, they paused for the night, bringing much relief to the ram, who was plenty annoyed by their stubbornness.

  It would be very inefficient for Onyx to return to Arrowhead Station, as the trek would take two days back and two more days forth. And since it was dark anyway, Onyx decided to camp the night and stay within the Ramparts until he finally defeated the beast—or at least until his supplies ran out.

  Luckily, the great heights of the Ramparts granted natural protection, though it was pretty chilly with the cold night winds assaulting his sides.

  The next day came, and then they were back at it again. Onyx tried deploying different strategies, seeing what he could do differently, but to no avail—defeat was always the end result. Yet he didn't stop. He kept trying, and with every attempt, he continued studying the beast, sometimes using Mystic Seer until his flux ran out.

  An unstoppable attack and an immovable defense—these were the two challenges Onyx had to overcome. At the same time. On top of that. Add to that the ram's natural terrain advantage and it was no wonder this species was hard to hunt.

  After much contemplation, Onyx concluded that there was just nothing Tusk, with his current toolkit, could do to overcome this wall. He needed something different. Something that would allow him to tackle this challenge from a different angle.

  But what?

  Onyx kept wondering as he kept trying. But then, on the next day, while studying the ram once more, he had an epiphany.

  At one point while using Mystic Seer, something seemed to suddenly click within Onyx's head. It was about the ram's abilities—more specifically, about how they functioned. For some reason, Onyx seemed to have developed an understanding of the mechanisms behind them.

  Onyx was surprised by this development. What could have brought this understanding? he wondered. But soon, he knew why.

  It was all thanks to Mystic Seer.

  This art allowed its user to peer into the essence of the world, granting one the ability to perceive and comprehend the true nature of it.

  Onyx had already experienced this, having observed the force and essence and even the nature within some beasts. But he hadn't expected this effect to extend to comprehending the mechanisms behind their abilities.

  Was this standard for this art? Or a hidden aspect? Or maybe even an extra perk he unlocked courtesy of his talent?

  Either way, how come he never noticed until now? Could it be because it took time and consistency for this art to produce this effect? It could be—after all, he had been intently studying the Rampart Ram for quite some time, definitely far more than any other beast he had faced so far.

  Onyx wondered in his head, but soon he shrugged. "Whatever the reason, this is a pleasant surprise either way. And in fact, it's already giving me some ideas."

  And so, for the next day, Onyx and Tusk put their duels against the Rampart Ram on pause. Instead, the duo were focused on trying something—specifically, Onyx was trying to teach Tusk [Rampart Stance] and [Ram Charge] .

  Now, it might seem surprising, but this wasn't the first time Onyx had tried to impart an ability into Tusk from another beast. They had already done so before with Hatchet and his [Cleave] . Thus, he was confident in his ability to do so.

  Of course, to do such a thing, two conditions must be met. One: that Tusk was physically capable of performing said ability. Two: that he possessed the necessary knowledge to do so. Fulfill these two conditions, and the ability could be replicated through [Martial Skill] .

  The harder of the two conditions was the second. Onyx would have to procure the necessary information and then have Tusk comprehend it.

  With Hatchet, it was easy. As a beast tamed by him, Onyx already had many ways of observing and dissecting his workings. But if Onyx tried to do the same with other beasts, that's when it got difficult. He obviously didn't have the innate understanding of such beasts as he would with his tamed ones. Thus Collecting data from them was bound to be much harder.

  In fact, Onyx never imagined he could synthesize abilities from wild beasts—at least, not easily. But that was up until now.

  The new comprehension ability brought by Mystic Seer could be called a game changer. With it, Onyx could now gain understanding of the mechanisms behind the abilities of other beasts, as long as he was diligent enough—which in turn contributed toward fulfilling the hardest condition of [Martial Skill] .

  Onyx's mind burned with anticipation at the thought. He now basically had a learning pipeline, which would definitely greatly contribute to the power acquisition and development of Tusk.

  But before he got ahead of himself, he decided to confirm his hypothesis by fulfilling the task at hand.

  Like before, Onyx framed all the data he collected. Then, using his mental link with Tusk, he transferred the information to him as vividly and as clearly as possible—even breaking down some of the information so it would be easier to comprehend, and even adding some mental notes here and there.

  Onyx's efforts would soon bear fruit. He was also lucky that his beast had the [Inborn Fighter] trait, which aided him in comprehending these new fighting techniques.

  [Rampart Stance] worked by channeling one's internal force to create a suction effect on the points of contact with the ground, allowing one to become rooted in place as a result. However, solid ground was needed to use this ability.

  [Ram Charge] , on the other hand, worked by building up a charge—compressing internal force within one's body before releasing it all in a single burst. The strength of the burst depended on the built-up charge.

  After fully integrating these principles and a long day of training to master implementing them, Tusk managed to successfully acquire the ability [Rampart Stance] .

  As for [Ram Charge] , however, despite having the necessary understanding, it seemed Tusk still lacked the capability needed to perform it—mainly the force compression part of the ability.

  But no matter. [Rampart Stance] alone would prove all they needed to turn the tables.

  The next morning, Onyx and Tusk stood atop their designated peak, facing the Rampart Ram once more. The beast stamped its hooves impatiently, clearly annoyed that these persistent nuisance had returned for another round.

  From his distant perch, Onyx smiled. "Alright, buddy. Let's show him what's new."

  Tusk rumbled in acknowledgment, his armored form settling into a familiar stance—but this time, something was different. There was a new stillness to him, a grounded quality that hadn't been there before.

  The ram, sensing the change, tilted its head warily. But instinct took over, and it lowered its horns, preparing for the usual exchange.

  It charged first.

  [Ram Charge] activated, and the beast shot forward like a copper comet, pressure field flaring around its body. It expected Tusk to brace for impact and get sent flying as always.

  Instead, Tusk planted his feet and activated [Rampart Stance] .

  The effect was immediate. Tusk's claws gripped the stone beneath him as if fused to it. When the ram's horns slammed into his armored chest, the impact reverberated through the peak—but Tusk didn't move. Not an inch. Not a single centimeter.

  The ram's eyes widened in shock. For the first time, its unstoppable force had met it's immovable match.

  Before the beast could recover from its confusion, Tusk's massive fist came swinging around. The blow caught the ram square in the ribs, lifting it off its feet and sending it tumbling across the peak's surface.

  The ram scrambled up, shaking its head, clearly bewildered by this turn of events. It tried to reestablish its defensive posture, lowering its horns and activating [Rampart Stance] of its own. If Tusk wanted to trade blows now, fine—it would weather the assault and counter.

  But Tusk didn't attack.

  Instead, he simply stood there. Waiting. Watching.

  Onyx's voice echoed from the distance, calm and calculated. "Now you know how that feels."

  The ram held its ground, waiting for an attack that never came. Seconds passed. Then a minute. The beast's muscles began to twitch with uncertainty. Its stance, so immovable, began to show cracks—not in its foundation, but in its patience.

  Finally, unable to bear the standoff, the ram broke its own formation. It charged again, desperate to reassert dominance.

  Tusk activated [Rampart Stance] once more.

  CRASH.

  The ram bounced off Tusk's unmoving form like a wave against a cliff. Before it could recover, Tusk's horn swept low, catching the beast's legs and sending it flipping through the air. It landed hard on its back, horns scraping against stone.

  The ram struggled to rise, but Tusk was already there. One massive foot pressed down on its chest, pinning it to the ground. Not hard enough to injure—just enough to make the message clear.

  It was over.

  From his distant vantage point, Onyx observed the defeated beast. His voice carried across the gap between peaks.

  "Harvest the horns. Then let it go."

  Tusk lowered his head, gripping one of the ram's curved horns with his powerful claw. Then with a sharp twist, he snapped it free. The ram bleated in pain but didn't struggle—it knew it had lost. A second twist, and the other horn joined the first.

  Tusk released his foot, stepping back and allowing the ram to rise. The beast scrambled to its feet, shaking its now-hornless head dizzily. It cast one last defeated look at the duo before turning and bounding across the Ramparts, disappearing into the maze of stone peaks.

  Tusk rumbled proudly, clutching the two horns in his grasp as he lifted into the air to return to his master.

  Onyx watched him approach, a satisfied smile on his face. "Sometimes," he muttered to himself, "you just need to use their own tricks against them."