Chapter 10:
The air was still warm from the summoning. Granek stood like a silent monolith—twelve feet of stone-forged muscle and moss-riddled armor, runes pulsing dimly across his shoulders. But Leo didn't linger in awe. He had summoned Granek. That was fact. And facts were part of the System now.
"Granek," he said, raising his hand. "Activate Dimensional Pocket. Return to storage."
The golem obeyed without a sound. Light cracked around his frame like refracted glass. A shimmer of distortion folded inward, pulling the construct out of reality in a graceful collapse.
> [Golem Stored: Granek – Earthbound Warrior]
Storage Type: Bound Construct via [Golemancer-Class Contract]
Location: Dimensional Pocket
⟢ Mana Link: Stable (Drain: Minimal)
⟢ Summon Status: Permanent – Recall Time: Instant
⟢ Return to Origin: ⛔ Disabled
[System Thread: Construct-Link Protocol… syncing…]
[Notice: Contract format does not match standard templates. Proceeding under anomaly flag.]
Leo exhaled. "That's more like it."
He and Tarra moved east. The faint bioluminescence of the Veilshrooms faded into cracked stone and winding roots. Sunlight filtered sparsely through the canopy. The forest pulsed with life—quiet, tense, as if holding its breath.
Tarra's cloak rustled lightly as she walked. "Navigation initiated. Destination: Nara Tree."
"Estimated distance?"
"Approximately forty kilometers. Estimated travel time: two days. Terrain: dense, mixed hazard."
Leo nodded.
Hours passed in near silence. The mana from his Resonant Aegis flowed smoothly, providing a steady +1 MP per second. Occasionally, Tarra's head would tilt slightly, noting distant movement, but no threat emerged.
Leo's mind drifted. Thoughts of Earth tugged at him again—his old life, the quiet hum of his desktop, the synthetic clack of mechanical keys. It felt impossibly far now. This world was heavier, older. Every breath tasted of soil and memory.
He missed instant ramen. He missed playlists.
But most of all… he missed being small. Not irrelevant—but unseen. Here, the world noticed him. Sometimes, it screamed.
Tarra halted.
"Anomaly detected," she said, voice low. "Airborne. Magnitude: extreme. Advise concealment."
Leo looked skyward.
A shadow fell.
It was not a bird.
A flying whale drifted overhead—levitating effortlessly through the air. Iridescent fins billowed, etched with glowing runes. Its form blocked the sun in silence. Something holy… and terrifying.
Leo whispered, "Appraisal."
> [Appraisal Failed]
Target Designation: (????)
A spike of pain shot through his skull. He gasped and gripped his head.
"Tarra…"
"Entity's mana exceeds safe threshold. Do not attempt further analysis."
Before Leo could speak, the sky-whale sang—a deep, resonant call that vibrated through bone and branch alike. The world dimmed in reverence.
Then came the roar.
From the northwest ridge.
A massive creature emerged—a bear-shaped behemoth with scorched black-brown fur, crowned in antlers like gnarled deadwood. Its claws gleamed obsidian, dripping with red mist. Its gaze burned.
Another appraisal attempt.
> [Appraisal Failed]
Target Designation: (????)
More pain. Leo dropped to one knee.
The bear roared. The world shook.
Above, the sky-whale turned.
They had noticed each other.
"Tarra," Leo croaked. "Run."
"Route plotted. Escape initiated."
They ran. Trees blurred. Branches whipped past. Behind them, the titans clashed—sound and power slammed through the forest.
A shockwave hit. Leo tumbled, caught himself, ran again.
"Nearest shelter?"
"Cave system. Southeast. Three kilometers."
"Go!"
They sprinted. Behind them, the world cracked.
Finally, they reached a vine-draped hollow. Tarra tore through the growth. Leo dove inside.
Silence fell, broken only by distant, earth-wrenching echoes.
Tarra stood guard.
Leo sat against the stone wall, chest heaving.
This world wasn't just dangerous.
It was vast. Ancient. Unknowable.
But he would learn. He would craft. He would build.
And someday, he would return—not as prey.
But as challenge.
The Titans of Aethelgard.