Ryu found himself in a daily routine of survival—scouting for food, practicing his newfound skills, and figuring out just how to manage in this unfamiliar body. Each day, he grew a little stronger, a little more attuned to the forest’s rhythms, though some things still didn’t come naturally.

Like moving silently.

“Don’t trip—” he muttered as he caught his foot on yet another root, stumbling forward with a decidedly undignified grunt. He scowled at his paws, large and awkward. You’d think the system would let me level up my coordination!

The sound of footsteps drew him out of his brooding, and he whipped around, squinting into the dimming forest light. He recognized that dark, sleek figure padding through the trees. It was Keira, and she was carrying… a bundle of sticks?

Before he could think of something clever to say, Keira dropped the sticks at his feet, huffing in annoyance.

“Hold these, rookie.”

“Uh, I think you’ve got the wrong guy for that job.” Ryu cocked his head, one paw half-raised. “Not exactly built for holding things.”

“Just… bite down on them.” She rolled her eyes, motioning to the sticks with her snout. “I’m not carrying your dinner for you. It’s bad enough I’m stuck looking out for a lesser beast like you.”

“Oh, I’m sorry, you’re looking out for me?” Ryu scoffed but reluctantly picked up the sticks, the taste of dirt and sap filling his mouth. “Pretty sure I’ve got things under control. I was blending in with nature just yesterday—had a nice, long session with the shadows.”

“Sure,” she said, barely containing a smirk. “But blending in doesn’t help much if you’re starving. Or too loud to actually sneak up on anything.”

Ryu rolled his eyes as much as a beast could and followed her as she led him deeper into the woods. He dropped the sticks the moment they reached a secluded spot under the trees, where Keira sniffed around before lying down. He could swear there was a flicker of softness in her eyes, even if she tried to keep her tone gruff.

“Look,” she said finally, breaking the silence, “you’re an odd case, you know that?”

“Gee, thanks,” Ryu replied, settling down beside her. “That’s just the confidence boost I needed.”

Keira let out a low, rumbling laugh. “It’s just... you’re not like the others around here. Most beasts have a single-minded focus on survival. But you’ve got this... odd humor about you. Makes me curious.”

“Curiosity is a good thing,” Ryu said, turning his gaze to the darkening sky above. “Keeps things interesting, right?”

Keira looked at him, the faintest hint of a smile softening her usual stoic expression. “You’ll need it out here. More than you know.” She lowered her head, resting it on her paws, eyes half-closed. “But there’s another reason I’m here.”

“Let me guess,” Ryu said. “You’re secretly a fangirl, and I’m the coolest beast you’ve met.”

She ignored his comment with a snort. “It’s because of the system. It marks certain beasts with a faint aura, a sign that we’ve got something valuable to learn from them. You’ve got one around you. I think it’s tied to your, well, unusual qualities.”

Ryu stared at her, processing the idea that he might be carrying around something other beasts found valuable. “So… you’re following me around for free lessons?”

Keira shrugged. “Something like that. But don’t get the wrong idea. If you start dragging me down, I’ll leave you behind.”

“Duly noted.” Ryu plucked at the forest floor with one claw. “So what’s the first lesson, Sensei?”

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She rolled her eyes, and with a smirk, settled in for the night.

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the next day.

The dawn broke bright and clear, and as Ryu rose, he found Keira already pacing, looking agitated.

“What's the deal?” he asked, yawning. He hadn’t even realized beasts could yawn until this body did it on its own.

“Humans,” she growled, her gaze darting nervously to the horizon. “There’s a group nearby. Hunters by the smell of it.”

“Hunters?” Ryu echoed. “Guess I should keep my distance, huh?”

Keira narrowed her eyes at him. “It’s not just that. Hunters are dangerous because they’ve got trained animals with them. Not as intelligent as us, but they’re powerful and relentless.”

He nodded, feeling a shiver of apprehension. This forest was throwing him into survival school with no warm-up. “What’s the plan?”

“Stay low, move quickly, and keep silent,” she said, flicking her tail. “Try not to make any loud or sudden movements.”

They crept forward, weaving around trees and ducking into bushes. But halfway through their stealthy trek, Ryu’s tail brushed against a branch, snapping it with a loud crack. The noise echoed through the forest.

“Oh, nice job,” Keira muttered, her voice dripping with sarcasm.

“Hey! New tail, okay?” he hissed, flattening his ears in embarrassment.

They froze, ears pricked, listening for any response. The forest seemed to hold its breath. For a moment, Ryu thought they’d managed to escape notice. But then, the distant sound of barking reached their ears, growing louder by the second.

Ryu’s stomach sank as he realized the barking was getting closer—and fast. “Alright, plan B?” he whispered, panic setting in.

“Run,” Keira said, voice barely above a growl. Without waiting for a reply, she bolted through the trees, and Ryu followed, adrenaline surging through him. He pumped his legs as fast as he could, using every ounce of speed he’d gained from his Sprint Burst I skill.

They darted through the trees, Keira leading the way, her movements fluid and precise. Ryu struggled to keep up, stumbling over roots and slipping on damp leaves. Definitely still a work in progress, he thought, gritting his teeth.

But as they rounded a corner, Keira suddenly stopped, skidding to a halt. Ryu barely managed to avoid crashing into her, claws digging into the ground to stop himself.

“What—why’d you stop?” he asked, panting.

Keira’s gaze was fixed on something in the distance—a group of hunters, armored and armed, moving methodically through the forest with leashed dogs at their sides. They hadn’t spotted the two beasts yet, but it was only a matter of time.

Keira glanced back at him, something desperate in her eyes. “Ryu, listen to me. There’s only one way out of this.”

He blinked, confused. “What do you mean?”

She gave him a grim smile. “You’ve got that aura, remember? That’s worth something. If they come for us, they’ll focus on you. And I’ll have a chance to lead them off.”

Ryu’s eyes widened as he realized what she was suggesting. “You’re going to sacrifice yourself?”

“It’s a trade,” she said simply. “Survival for knowledge. If I’m marked by the system, my life’s bound to end sooner rather than later. This way, it’ll mean something.”

“No—Keira, don’t!” Ryu tried to move toward her, but she took a step back, her gaze soft but unyielding.

“You’re not ready yet, Ryu,” she said softly. “But you will be. Survive, learn, and remember me. That’s all I ask.”

Before he could protest further, she lunged into the clearing, barking loudly to catch the hunters’ attention. The humans immediately turned toward her, raising their weapons as the dogs strained against their leashes, snarling.

“Run, Ryu!” she called over her shoulder, her voice strong and steady. “Don’t waste this!”

Heart pounding, Ryu turned and fled, her final words echoing in his mind. He didn’t stop running until the sounds of the hunters and their dogs faded into the distance, leaving him alone in the silent forest.

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STATUS SCREEN UPDATE

* Level Up! You have reached Level 3

* Skill Unlocked: Stealth Movement I – Gain enhanced stealth when moving quietly through forest terrain.

* Achievement Unlocked: Coward – Abandoned an ally in a moment of need.

* Effect: Minor increase to alertness when alone; reduced morale when encountering new allies.

* Achievement Unlocked: Lonewolf – Adapt to survival without relying on others.

* Effect: Slight boost to defense when solo; enhanced instinct response in hostile environments.

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Ryu slumped against a tree, catching his breath. He felt a strange emptiness settle over him, realizing that Keira was truly gone. She had sacrificed herself to give him a chance, believing in his potential—even when he hadn’t.

He clenched his jaw, his heart heavy but resolute. I won’t waste it, Keira. I’ll keep going, for both of us.

As he stared at the forest around him, he knew that his path had irrevocably changed. No longer just a survival journey, this had become something more—something that carried the weight of others’ sacrifices.

With a deep breath, he rose, steeling himself for the challenges ahead.