SSS-Ranked Evolution: Worlds Unbound-Chapter 26: The Side Quest.

It was the second night in Eblan, the town was slowly but surely going to sleep while Ren on the other hand, was preparing to go into the forest to deal with the wolves Kiyomi had asked for help with. He was given new sets of clothes and his knife was polished as per her request. Luna let out a soft howl, signifying to him that she was ready too.

He walked out of his room and navigated to the exit, where the chief sat in a meditative state. Ren etched closer and that was all she needed to sense him, "you leave now?"

"Yes." his voice stiff, Luna walked to her side to ask for pets and slowly, she rubbed her head with utmost respect.

"The den is east of the town but be cautious, there are many dangerous plants and other beasts that roam it. By the blessing of the moon goddess, you will come back safe and sound." a small smile graced her lips as Ren turned to leave.

He left Kiyomi’s house and reached the gates of Eblan, she had said east and that was exactly where he was going. He entered the forest again and continued his side quest journey but soon a nagging feeling clawed at him, he should have really asked how many wolves he was dealing with. Since it was a nuisance for the whole town, he knew he was going to have to fight a lot.

Luna was doing the most work of finding the den, her nose permanently glued to the ground, sniffing the path. Sometimes she would stop to sniff for more than three minutes before moving again and sure they were slow, it was necessary. The constant start and stop was getting Ren impatient, and he had almost doubled his movement speed, now ahead of Luna while she was busy trying to actually find the path. Looking up and whining in disapproval, she ran towards him, dragging him by the trousers and pulling him away from a death trap that could have consumed him. 𝐟𝐫𝕖𝗲𝘄𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝕧𝐞𝚕.𝕔𝕠𝐦

He was almost lashed by what seemed to be a carnivorous vine. It twirled like it was alive, its needles pulsating in disappointment before it curled back into its resting position. Ren had landed on his butt and with a comic sweat dripping down the side of his head, he apologized to Luna multiple times as she barked furiously at him. If she could talk, she would be raining insults.

Since the path they were currently on was unsafe, it was only best to go around it and after a while of walking, they reached a water source. Luna pranced forward, sniffing it before taking a sip, she bared her teeth afterwards and after that, led the way to a denser part of the forest, there were more trees and leaves and everything in the way. After that, a cave, too enormous to be overlooked, was slowly coming into view.

By then, they had entered their territory.

As they got closer to the cave, they instinctively slowed down, now being able to see wolves moving around, guarding the entrance of the cave. Just like how he had first met Luna, they were corrupted with sparks of deadly energy flying around them. His mind buzzed, he needed a game plan, or he would be their next meal. Crouching, he accidentally stepped on a twig, the snapping sound alerting the canines, now knowing that someone is in the vicinity.

Before Ren could take another step, a lightning strike was hurled at him, forcing him to roll out of his hiding space and into clear view. And Luna was not long to jump into view too. The wolves snarled at them, preparing to attack.

"Well shit." they had been found out.

Luna growled softly in response, sparks of electricity flickering along her silver fur.

The pack charged.

A wolf lunged at Ren, its maw snapping with unnatural speed. He ducked, the wolf’s claws raking harmlessly above his head as he twisted to the side. With a fluid motion, he planted his foot into the wolf’s side, sending it sprawling. Another wolf came at him from the right, but he spun, kicking upward, his heel connecting with its jaw and throwing it back.

Luna was a blur of motion. She leapt high into the air as three wolves lunged at her, bolts of lightning arcing from her body and striking the ground around them. The wolves yelped but quickly regrouped, one tackling her mid-air. They hit the ground hard, locked in a vicious struggle.

"Luna!" Ren shouted, only to have his focus pulled by a wolf charging at him head-on.

It lunged, its jaws wide open, teeth gleaming with dark energy. Ren barely had time to react. He dropped to his back, his feet shooting up to kick the beast over his head, sending it flying. Before he could recover, another wolf was on him, its claws digging into his shoulders. Its maw snapped dangerously close to his face.

With a shout, Ren drove his dagger into the wolf’s side, forcing it off him. The beast yelped, staggering back before retreating into the shadows.

Lightning lit up the battlefield as Luna fought off her assailant, but she was losing ground. A massive corrupted wolf, its size rivalling her own, had pinned her down, its dark jaws snapping just inches from her throat. Sparks flew as she struggled, her growls turning desperate.

Ren saw her plight and gritted his teeth. "Get off her you untrained mut!" he growled, summoning his energy.

A blast of golden energy erupted from his palms, slamming into the wolves surrounding Luna. The force sent them flying in all directions, giving her the space to roll free and regain her footing. She limped back to his side, panting heavily but still standing.

"They just keep coming," Ren muttered, wiping blood from the corner of his mouth. Luna let out a low growl, her body trembling with suppressed power. Ren knelt beside her, placing a hand on her back. "You’ve got this, girl. Let’s show them what we’re made of."

His energy flowed into her, and immediately, her body began to change. Her silver fur glowed brighter, her form growing larger and more imposing. One tail split into three, each one crackling with electricity. Her claws lengthened, and her eyes burned with a fierce, otherworldly light.

Ren stepped back, awestruck, "Luna..." he hadn’t expected that and puzzled, looked at his own hand. Could he...evolve beasts? He had never heard of a beast tamer that was able to do that. Maybe he was the first of his kind. Or maybe, he should stop touching things.

The newly transformed Luna let out an earth-shaking roar, her three tails swiping the air and discharging bolts of lightning that lit up the dark forest. The corrupted wolves hesitated, their snarls faltering as they faced the empowered beast.

Together, Ren and Luna charged.

Ren darted forward, his dagger flashing as he deflected an incoming wolf. He flipped over another, landing gracefully before spinning to deliver a kick to its ribs. Behind him, Luna unleashed a barrage of lightning bolts, each strike precise and devastating. Wolves scattered, their dark energy faltering under her relentless assault.

The tide turned quickly. The pack, once so relentless, began to falter as Luna’s power overwhelmed them. Finally, the last of the wolves collapsed to the ground, their snarls fading into whimpers. The dark energy that corrupted them began to dissipate, lifting like a black mist into the sky.

Ren’s chest heaved as he looked around the clearing. The wolves, now free, blinked as if waking from a nightmare. They glanced at him briefly before scattering into the depths of the forest, their figures fading into the trees.

It was over.

Ren slumped to the ground, his body heavy with exhaustion. He glanced down at his arm, noticing the fresh bite wound seeping blood.

"Of course," he muttered with a tired chuckle, but he was happier that it wasn’t his beautiful face that he treasured so much. Luna padded over to him, lowering her massive form to nudge his cheek with her nose. He smiled weakly, resting a hand on her glowing fur. "We did it, girl."

She let out a soft howl, and they made their way back to Eblan. When Kiyomi saw a wounded Ren, she rushed over to him with a hand around his body, "poor child! You...!" shock filled her bones as she turned to Luna who now looked different and wasn’t too happy that Ren was getting all the attention, "she has changed! By the goddess..." distracted for a hot second before she brought Ren in to treat his wounds.

Soon his arm was wrapped in a bandage, and he was left to rest, Luna never leaving his side, pretty sure she was hungry again. By the time he woke up, Kiyomi was in his room, cleaning the wound again. The sting of the disinfectants was what woke him actually.

"You came back alive, you truly are a great warrior." she commended him with the softest smile, wrapping his arm in a fresh set of bandages. Ren managed a smile, also enjoying the feel of Luna’s new look. The atmosphere stiffened when Kiyomi asked, "what, or who do you seek in Karnak?"

"I do not seek Karnak but a land beyond it." Ren pushed himself to sit up straight, his not wounded hand finding Luna’s head and giving her a nice head rub.

"The lands are polluted with evil creatures. It is not wise to go alone. Or even go at all." her tone held reverence as she squeezed the bloodied napkin into the wash bowl, the water now coloured with Ren’s blood.

"I made a promise to a loved one, I cannot return without reaching the land. You said you will help me get there..."

"Yes I will. The main road to Karnak has been destroyed, an earthquake was the cause for that. However, there is another route I can show you. It will take you straight to the back gate of the town where you can go in. I wish you could stay, but I cannot force you. We are forever in your debt, great warrior." She gifted him a small smile and the name registered in his heart and brain.

Great warrior.

He was instantly reminded of Reina and Rami, they were the first ones to call him Great Warrior, and slowly he began to believe he was one and not a small child muzzled with an insane amount of luck.

Out of her Kimono, she exhumed a jaded emblem and placed it in his hand, "it is not much, but it will keep you safe." and folded his fingers over it, "I pray to the moon goddess that we meet again, alive and well."

"Thank you Kiyomi, I will never forget you." and the side quest is complete.

Next stop; Karnak.