A Stroke of Luck

Zero stood stock-still.

Even while on all fours, the cat-like creature stood at least a few feet higher than him. It surveyed him from a distance as it's ears folded were folded back.

If it's anything like Earth cats, that's not a good sign, Zero thought.

He chanced taking a small step backwards and just so happened to step on the loudest, and tiniest, group of fallen leaves. The crunch it made was enough to make the cat even more on edge - it lowered it's stance and began to make small, slow steps towards Zero.

"Grrrrrrr.." The growl emanating from within it told Zero all he needed to know.

He's not going to let me just leave.

He glanced around them and saw several slim shadows cast apart from each other from the surrounding trees, but the closest one was a few feet away. His head was still a bit foggy from previously being inflected with Phantasm so his thoughts were a little slow to fully connect. 

Clearly not the case for the cat beast.

In the mere seconds that Zero tried to formulate some plan of escape, the beast lunged forward in a quick burst of speed that eliminated the space between them before he realized it. 

Acting on instinct, Zero dodged to the right towards the closest shadow but was caught by a blinding fast swipe from the creature. 

"GAH!" He bellowed in pain as he felt its thick claws graze across his back. As long as they were even something as shallow as that was enough to bring him down. Zero was thrown off balance and fell forward onto the ground. 

The creature pounced off the ground and dove in for the final blow as it brandished both claws downwards.

"Let the shadows consume me!" Zero quickly rolled out of the way while he yelled his invocation. 

The creature slammed against the ground and darted its head towards Zero as he scampered towards the closest tree. It bared it's teeth in frustration and took off after him.

Zero quickly lunged around the other side of the tree. "Shadow cloak."

As the creature reached the other side of the tree its eyes widened in reaction to Zero no longer there. It turned its head in every direction, but couldn't see a trace of him. 

That was way too-, Zero began to think as his back was plastered to the tree in an attempt to stay within the slim shadow; but he suddenly paused.

The creature had closed its eyes and begun to sniff the air.

Oh no. Of course, he's an animal! Zero hadn't even considered the possibility that the creature could potentially track him by smell.

The more the creature sniffed, the more its head began to drift closer to the tree Zero was up against. He knew that if he shifted an inch in either direction, he would be out of the shadow and be fully visible. But if he didn't...he was going to be discovered either way.

Suddenly the creature's eyes flew open and he was staring right at the tree. It bared it's teeth and a low growl could be heard. It knew.

You've got to be kidding me! Zero thought in desperation. This is just like against Askook-

Zero's eyes lit up. Just like against Askook!

Just as the creature took a single step towards the tree and prepared to make it's next move, Zero beat him to it. He darted off of the tree and threw his hand out, revealing himself in the process. Even though the creature had cat-like reflexes, it was clear that Zero had caught him by surprised - he quickly placed his hand on the creature's head before it had time to react.

"Alone in the dark!"

The creature hissed in anger at being touched, but then its face dropped in shock. It quickly backed away from Zero and seemed to turn frantic as it was now blinded. Zero watched as the creature tried to make some kind of escape like a trapped scared kitten. With all the trees surrounding them though it just kept running into things.

He looked down at the scarf around his neck. With this, it should extend the Darkness effect by 15%! Zero thought.

The creature made one final attempt to escape the area and was met with the unforgiving toughness of the biggest tree around them while running at full speed. The impact could be heard resounding through the area and the cat-like beast finally fell to the ground.

"Is it...dead?" Zero whispered to himself. He took a few quiet steps closer to where the creature laid and could still see its large chest rising up and down. But it made no attempt to get back up after that nasty head blow.

Zero watched the beast for a moment. When it wasn't busy chasing him with it's deadly claws, it was actually kind of cute with it's blue fur and black speckles. He then looked to his right and saw a sizable low hanging branch on a nearby tree.

Before his next thought could generate, a digital info box suddenly appeared before him:

[Bonded Beast: Forest Lynx(male)

Primarily lives in dense forest; not suitable for low level players. If defeated and still alive, this beast can be bonded by the winning player as a companion/mount.]

An option then appeared before him via his HUD. 

[ Would you like to bond the Forest Lynx? Yes or No

Note: Only 1 creature may be bonded to a single player]

"Whoa, are you serious?" Zero said in disbelief. He knew he had gotten very lucky - if the lynx hadn't taken himself out from being blinded, he would've had no chance on his own against it. But now...he had the chance to make yet another useful companion to help him reach the end of the game.

Zero chose 'Yes' and the palm of his hand began to glow with a purplish energy.

[ Touch the Forest Lynx to bond ]

He reached out and touched the head of the dazed beast and he could see the energy transfer from his palm to the Forest Lynx. A purple insignia appeared on its forehead

[You have bonded the Forest Lynx! Exp +100]

Zero felt a rare sense of accomplishment rise within him. "Wait until Kai-"

"Found you!"

At the familiar sound of Kai's voice, Zero turned to greet his partner but his relief suddenly turned to fear. Kai held his energy sword above his head as he stood behind him with a strained intensity in his face. That's when Zero remembered that Kai had no possible way of getting rid of the Phantasm effect on his own.

And now he saw Zero as his number one enemy.