The Pact: Bruno and the Crimson Veil

Under the first rays of the sun, we left the cave.

The landscape was the same as always, but the sun seemed to shine brighter in contrast with the deep, thick snow covering the ground.

I climbed onto Astrel's back as he walked toward the cliff.

All our energy would be needed to climb.

But… something terrifying awaited us.

That huge bear and the white wolf were in their final attacks.

The bear was destroyed — wounded, exhausted.

The wolf held the absolute advantage.

Still, they had been fighting for hours.

Is this the difference between levels?

The wolf was a genuine 3rd-Level Beast.

The bear… was a beast nearing 3rd Level.

It seemed to be hunting wildly, trying to complete its evolution — and this had attracted the attention of the Bright Moon Wolves.

It had massacred other beasts, devouring them to advance.

And by doing so, it attracted the Wolves — for this was a sacred hunting ground, territory worthy of them.

We were there, only seven steps from the cliff.

But each of their attacks, even from a distance, reached us with unparalleled brutality.

It looked like a deforestation field: broken trees, the ground full of holes.

Even the birds under the endless sky preferred to avoid and fly around the battle site in wide circles.

The bear roared uncontrollably.

It seemed that the last step had been completed.

A thick vitae began to gather around it —

Its beastly crystal was undergoing a transformation. It was evolving.

In ecstasy, it attacked the wolf brutally, trying to speed up the process.

But the wolf faced it head-on.

And even under intense suppression…

It was winning every confrontation.

No matter what the bear did —

The wolf was always at an advantage.

Whether in physical attacks or innate strikes.

In the despair of that confrontation, I ordered Astrel to start running back —

But they were here again.

Four 2nd-Level wolves, the same damn ones that had attacked me before.

We were surrounded.

Outnumbered. Again.

Astrel neighed proudly, even facing the threat.

He was a beast nearing 2nd Level.

I could now be considered at the same level.

Ignis, on the other hand, was a 5th Grade Spiritual Beast.

But... it didn't matter.

We could never win this fight.

Not against four 2nd-Level wolves — especially with one clearly at a higher sublevel.

That wolf's aura was intense. Its presence oppressive.

Defeating one directly would be difficult. Four? One superior?

Impossible.

But we were surrounded.

There was no choice left.

If we waited, we would be at a disadvantage.

I grabbed the disposable spear and threw it at the strongest wolf.

He dodged easily.

I then took the bone spear and charged.

He looked at me with disdain, as if my audacity was ridiculous.

But there was... respect in his gaze.

I raised the spear.

It took on the aspect of a purple flame.

Since the formation of the Blood Star, I could channel vitae directly into the weapon.

I still couldn't control the Nox externally, nor the fire element consciously —

But the vitae reacted instinctively to my will.

Still... he was far superior.

With an irritated growl and a brutal paw strike, he threw me through the air.

He charged at me fiercely.

I wasn't skilled with spears — and he knew it.

He was hunting me. Like I was a toy.

Alleviating his boredom. Feeding his pride.

I dragged myself to the spear stuck in the ground.

I grabbed it.

Poured vitae over it — and the purple fire returned.

I threw it again.

The blade caused only a small cut.

But then, I expanded my Nox.

A thin mist covered the field.

It had a deep purple hue.

Burns began appearing in various spots on the terrain.

I heard a growl.

He was scenting me.

But I... wasn't going to fight to the death.

I used Mutatio.

My wings tore through my back as they emerged.

And I flew away, escaping from there.

Ignis heard my call.

He launched a small fire orb inside the mist — which exploded into purple flames.

Then I moved to help my companions.

With the bone spear in hand, I advanced.

A thrust cut through the air toward one of the wolves' legs.

He skillfully dodged, but a small cut opened beneath his fur — and was healed instantly.

Still, a single drop of blood ran down the spear's edge.

It was enough.

That blade had been soaking for days in fruit venom and snake blood.

It was only half the original poison, but it should have some effect.

With a swift move, I leapt onto Astrel.

He began to burn intensely.

He was activating his innate power: the Flame Charge.

I expelled my vitae.

The flames around us turned purple, with black spots glowing like living coals.

Ignis climbed onto my back, supporting himself on my neck.

He spread his wings. Released his fire aura.

At that moment, we were no longer three.

We were one.

Four paws.

Three bodies.

Two pairs of wings.

One roar.

An ancient flame covered us.

And ahead… a bone spear, its tip covered by thick, purple vitae.

Corpus Trium Ignium.

The Body of Three Fires.

We had tested this the previous night.

It was far from perfect — we lacked synergy.

But together like this, we could face a 2nd-Level beast head-on.

The large wolf, hit by the previous explosion, returned growling.

As expected, the damage had been superficial — just burns on the fur.

Now we used all our strength.

The beasts surrounded us.

There was no escape.

Not without abandoning Astrel.

And I... I wouldn't do that.

I wouldn't abandon him.

Not like they did to me.

Not before.

Not now.

Ignis, Astrel, and I roared in unison.

It was time to fight.

Ignis pulled my vitae and Astrel's — channeling everything into a torrent of purple flames launched at the wolves ahead.

Astrel charged brutally, using his signature move.

I wielded the spear, delivering a furious sequence of strikes —

Thrusts, side slashes, diagonals, nonstop.

We were one.

Three bodies.

One being.

Breaking the barrier between 1st and 2nd Level.

Not for long.

But maybe… enough to drive them off.

Or scare them.

The fight continued.

The wolves attacked as a coordinated pack.

We defended with everything we had.

We would not yield.

We would not die here.

We would not become wolf food.

We wanted to return.

Escape this hell.

With every heavy blow, blood poured from me and Astrel.

Our vitae drained.

Bodies ached.

Spirits burned.

Until a growl echoed through the forest.

The wolves hesitated.

They diverted their attention from us.

Focusing on something bigger.

The black bear…

Had completed its transformation.

It was now a true 3rd-Level Beast.

The wolves ran toward it — not to greet, but to attack.

Harassing the newly transformed, challenging its dominion.

And that… gave us the chance to escape.

Astrel began running toward the cliff.

We didn't leave our form.

Perhaps...

Corpus Trium Ignium.

The Body of Three Fires.

My vitae and Ignis' merged into Astrel's body.

And under a blazing charge, he began climbing the cliff.

Each step brought us closer to the tree where we had been hanging by the chain.

It was about 30 to 40% up —

A landmark. A symbol. A goal.

It was my turn.

I twirled the double vine with goat horns on the tip and threw it with all my strength toward the top of the cliff.

It latched firmly onto the edge.

I started pulling it with all the strength of my body, propelling Astrel upward.

Ignis flapped his small wings, clinging to me, trying to push us up.

I didn't leave him alone.

I spread my own wings and began flying, helping carry Astrel along with us.

We were almost there.

But the vitae… was running out.

Each step, closer to victory.

But also...

Steeper, more brutal.

More vitae, more energy, more strength… all being drained from us.

Before, we were an infinite blaze.

Now…

Just a purple ember against the tide.

The spark slowly faded.

But, as if in a victory ritual, under the sunlight…

The cliff was left behind.

And before us was it.

The cursed forest where Astrel and I had fought almost to death.

Now… it was time to go back.

Home.