This mistake was the kind that could have killed people. His footing slightly slipped on the wet moss, only for an instant.

Unfortunately for him, the wolf saw it. Elemental beasts possessed frightening instincts. The creature abandoned Silver entirely and lunged for Ravenna.

"No!"

Silver quickly moved but it was far too late. The wolf’s burning claws struck. Ravenna barely managed to avoid a direct hit. The attack still tore across her side and blood sprayed. Her body crashed into the tunnel wall.

Silver felt his stomach drop. Everything seemed to stop. Ravenna slid down the concrete as her sword fell from numb fingers. Blood rapidly soaked her clothing, far too much blood.

The wolf turned toward her, instinctively recognizing weakness. It went for the kill.

Silver’s vision narrowed as cold anger surged through him.

[Short-Step Lv1 Activated]

Space folded around him. Pain exploded behind his eyes but Silver ignored it.

He appeared directly between Ravenna and the wolf. The beast looked surprised, Silver didn’t give it time to react.

His sword slashed and stabbed towards the wolf in cold precision over and over again. Every strike carried strength enhancement and desperation.

The wolf finally retreated since it couldn’t get any openings to attack. It was only getting hurt with each trial.

Silver drove it backward relentlessly. Blood flew everywhere, its charcoal armor shattered and burning fur scattered across the tunnel.

The wolf became increasingly wounded and also increasingly desperate. Yet Silver’s condition worsened too, mental fatigue accumulated rapidly.

Space abilities always demanded payment and he was spending heavily.

The system appeared repeatedly.

[Warning]

Mental Strain Rising

[Warning]

Mental Strain Rising

Silver ignored every notification. The wolf had hurt Ravenna, that was all that mattered. Eventually, both combatants staggered.

The wolf’s breathing became ragged. Blood dripped from dozens of wounds, one eye was barely open, and several protrusions had shattered.

Silver wasn’t much better. His head felt like it was splitting apart, his muscles screamed and his soul felt stretched.

But the beast was finally weakening, the end was clearly approaching.

Silver was preparing for the final attack when he heard movement behind him. His eyes widened.

Ravenna.

She was standing, barely. Blood covered one side of her body, yet her grip had returned to her sword. Their eyes met and no words were needed.

The wolf attacked one last time, a desperate charge and a final gamble.

Silver intercepted.

His blade drove into its shoulder. The wolf twisted violently, trying to tear free. That created the opening.

Ravenna moved. She took one step, then another until she got closer. Her sword thrust forward, straight through the wolf’s chest. The blade emerged from the other side.

The beast froze. The fire within its body flickered twice then it died.

Silence filled the tunnel.

The Fire Wolf collapsed sliding from both their swords. For several moments nobody moved. Silver’s breathing echoed loudly while Ravenna leaned against her sword, trying not to fall.

She looked at the corpse and the realization slowly appeared. They had actually killed an elemental beast.

Silver laughed weakly. Ravenna did too, then immediately winced from her injuries.

"Don’t laugh, you’ll make the wound worse."

"You laughed first."

That somehow made him smile, a small but tired smile. Then Ravenna approached the corpse. Silver already knew what she intended.

They had luckily stumbled upon an elemental beast, the perfect contract. It was perhaps the opportunity of a lifetime.

She knelt beside the still-warm corpse and placed one hand against the wolf’s chest. She closed her eyes, preparing for integration.

Silver suddenly remembered something, the absorption of some of the beast’s characteristics and instincts during integration.

Although extremely talented, fire Wolves were violent, aggressive, and impulsive. If Ravenna just integrated it, she might get these qualities and a complete overhaul of her personality.

It doesn’t always happen but Silver wasn’t one to risk it. He looked toward the system.

"Can those traits be removed?"

The answer appeared instantly.

[Request Accepted]

Target: Fire Wolf Core

Function:

• Instinct Purification

• Removal of Residual Behavioral Traits

• Removal of Aggression Imprint

• Removal of Temperament Corruption

Cost: 300 Affection Points

Silver stared.

"Three hundred?"

[Confirmed]

That was basically highway robbery. The system remained silent, completely unconcerned.

Silver looked at Ravenna. At the blood covering her clothes, at the exhaustion in her eyes ; at the trust she’d placed in him today.

Then sighed inwardly.

"Purchase."

[300 Affection Points Deducted]

Instinct Purification Initiated

A faint silver light briefly flowed through the wolf’s body, it was gone immediately, invisible to Ravenna.

The system displayed one final notification.

[Purification Complete]

{Target Safe for Integration

No Residual Personality Influence Detected}

Silver relaxed. It was worth every point, even if it hurt. Unlike weapons or skills, these rewards weren’t for him but for her.

[Remaining Affection Points: 263]

The moment the purification finished, the corpse of the Fire Wolf began to change. The black charcoal-like fur that had looked so savage moments ago slowly dimmed, the remaining flames flickered weakly and then all the fire gathered inward, toward its chest.

Silver watched carefully, even though he already knew what was happening.

A beast core was not truly a physical object, especially not for elemental beasts.

It was a condensation of soul power; of instinct, elemental authority, and everything that made the creature what it was.

The wolf’s body gradually crumbled into glowing embers. The process was strangely beautiful. Orange particles drifted upward through the darkness of the tunnel like tiny fireflies, until eventually only the core remained.

A crystal, the size of a fist, turning quietly like a miniature sun.

Ravenna stared at it, her eyes widened. Her extended arm trembled slightly as it touched the embers gathering around the core. She knelt there, completely still.

Silver could see it in her eyes,disbelief, hope, and fear. There were years of frustration, of surviving alone and of lowering expectations, because reality had never been kind to her.

All of it had condensed into this single moment. The elemental beast she had only heard rumors about, that the entire contractor teams were desperately searching for; something she never would have dared dream of obtaining was now lying in front of her, waiting for her.