The monster moved so fast that Fenix barely had time to react before it lunged at ChibiScker. Its cws sshed through the air with a sharp whoosh as ChibiScker barely managed to fend it off with his swords.

  Sparks flew when the bdes met the creature’s cws, lighting up the dark forest for a split second. The monster moved so fast that Fenix struggled to keep track, its body a blur of motion as it circled ChibiScker.

  As Fenix watched, he could finally make out the creature’s features. It was a Fre Dog. The exact monster that ChibiScker wanted to tame.

  However, this one was different—it wasn’t the typical red-hot fire that flickered through its fur. Instead, its coat glowed with pink fmes that shimmered and crackled in the night air.

  Fenix’s mind raced, trying to understand how it ended up here, deep in the woods. Didn’t these types of monsters usually stay in the desert? He gnced over at ChibiScker, wondering if the boy had noticed this oddity too.

  ChibiScker was too focused to notice. He was locked in a fierce struggle, trying to push the Fre Dog back without killing it. It was clear to see that he wanted to tame it, but taming a beast like this wouldn't be easy.

  ChibiScker needed to wear it down to exactly 50% health using his taming cane, and that meant no weapons could touch the creature first. Otherwise, all hope of taming it would vanish.

  “Chaotic Nexus, I need your help!” ChibiScker shouted, gritting his teeth as the Fre Dog pressed harder. “I really want to tame this thing!”

  Fenix knew that it would be tricky. Fre Dogs were aggressive, fast, and fiercely protective of their territory. Maybe this one had targeted ChibiScker because he was a beast type too—simir in nature to the dog itself.

  He thought back to what ChibiScker said earlier, about the monster being curious. Was the Fre Dog testing them? Fenix didn’t have time to dwell on it. His hand tightened around the dreaming dust potion, and without hesitation, he hurled it at the Fre Dog. But the creature was too fast. Its body blurred as it dodged the attack with ease.

  Only the glowing trail of its pink fmes remained visible as it vanished into the darkness once again. ChibiScker quickly banished his swords, pulling out the taming cane and positioning himself for the next attack. He gnced back at Fenix. “Chaotic Nexus, hold off on the potions. This thing’s too fast—you’ll just waste them. I’ve got it under control.”

  Before Fenix could respond, the Fre Dog reappeared. ChibiScker grinned, spinning the taming cane in his hand like a staff. He lunged at the beast, striking it square in the face. The impact knocked the creature back, but it quickly regained its footing, growling low in its throat.

  “Bring it on,” ChibiScker taunted.

  The Fre Dog’s eyes narrowed. Without warning, it unleashed three fireballs in rapid succession. ChibiScker dodged them easily, but it was a feint—the real attack came from behind.

  The Fre Dog blurred again, moving with lightning speed as it closed in on him. By the time ChibiScker realized what had happened, it was too te. A fourth fireball smmed into him from behind, sending him flying into a tree with a sickening thud.

  “Ugh…” ChibiScker groaned, wincing as he tried to push himself back up. “ Omg, that really hurts, even with the pain setting on low.”

  “Watch out, this dog’s smarter than it looks,” Fenix remarked.

  ChibiScker nodded, wincing as he gulped down a health potion. “Yeah, I’ve noticed,” he muttered, eyes narrowing as he looked at the dog.

  The Fre Dog charged again, eyes bzing as it closed in on ChibiScker. But this time, ChibiScker was ready. Just as the monster lunged, he leaped into the air, twisting his body to deliver a series of powerful blows with the taming cane. Each hit connected with a crack, and by the time ChibiScker nded on his feet, the Fre Dog’s health had dropped to exactly 50%.

  Wasting no time, ChibiScker quickly stowed the cane in his inventory and pulled out a pet carrier. As soon as it touched the ground, the carrier expanded to ten times its normal size, towering over them both. Now, all he had to do was lure the Fre Dog inside to complete the taming process. But the beast wasn’t going to make it easy.

  The Fre Dog snarled, charging at ChibiScker with renewed fury, its pink fmes crackling more intensely. “What now? How do I get it into the carrier?” ChibiScker muttered, dodging another fiery attack as the Fre Dog continued its relentless attack.

  Fenix, watching from the sidelines, quickly formed a pn. He knew it was risky, but they were running out of options. “ChibiScker, make it chase you around and lead it into the carrier!” he called out.

  “What?! If I run in there, I’ll be trapped with it!” ChibiScker shot back, eyes wide with disbelief.

  “Trust me! Once you’re inside, I’ll throw a Dreaming Dust potion. It’ll knock the Fre Dog out cold, and you can escape before it wakes up!” Fenix replied, his voice steady.

  After a moment’s hesitation, ChibiScker nodded. The pn was crazy, but it just might work. He taunted the Fre Dog, provoking it with a few well-timed dodges until the creature was completely fixated on him. Then, with a burst of speed, he took off, weaving through the trees with the Fre Dog hot on his heels.

  The sight of ChibiScker sprinting around the clearing, narrowly dodging fiery attacks, was almost comical—at least to Fenix.

  Finally, ChibiScker reached the pet carrier and dove inside. The Fre Dog followed without hesitation, but just as it was about to pounce, Fenix hurled the Dreaming Dust potion into the carrier. The vial shattered on impact, releasing a shimmering cloud of dust that enveloped the Fre Dog. Its fiery eyes drooped, and within moments, it colpsed, fast asleep.

  ChibiScker wasted no time. He scrambled out of the carrier and smmed the door shut. The instant the door clicked, the carrier shrank back to its original size, with the Fre Dog inside transforming into a cub. ChibiScker paused, his eyes gzing over as if reading something only he could see. Then, a wide grin spread across his face.

  “I did it! I tamed my first monster!” he excimed, his voice bubbling excitedly.

  Fenix couldn’t help but smile back at him. “That’s awesome. Now, let’s get out of these woods. The sooner we’re back, the sooner you can start training your little guy.”

  “You’re right, let’s go!” ChibiScker agreed, his excitement barely contained as he followed Fenix out of the forest, cooing at the newly tamed cub cradled in his arms.