Animal Tamer's Dominion
Chapter 44: Haruka’s Story

Chapter 44: Haruka’s Story

The shadows of the forest stretched long under the dim light of dawn. The soft rustling of leaves filled the air, accompanied by the faint chirping of birds that had dared to venture back after the chaos of the dungeon battle.

Kenji sat cross-legged on a patch of soft moss, his thoughts lost in the events of the past night. Argoth’s hulking form stood nearby, motionless yet brimming with silent power, like a storm waiting to be unleashed. The shadows of the forest played across the beast’s dark, muscular frame, a reminder of the strength Kenji now commanded.

Haruka sat a few feet away, cleaning her fur meticulously. Every now and then, she glanced at Kenji with a mixture of amusement and concern. Her movements were graceful but tense, as though her mind lingered on the remnants of pain and uncertainty from the dungeon battle. The children had been left in the safety of a nearby glade, a short trek from their current position. It gave Kenji some much-needed time to think—and recover.

"Master," Haruka said, her pink eyes meeting his. "You should eat something before we move on."

Kenji looked up, blinking as though shaken from a dream. "You’re probably right. But I don’t think my stomach’s ready after everything it’s been through." He gave her a weak smile, though his eyes betrayed the storm of thoughts racing in his head.

"That is true. Oh, and Master, I got this for you!" Haruka immediately began rifling through her fur, searching for something. "Aha!" she exclaimed, pulling out a crystal and tossing it to Kenji.

Catching the crystal in his hand, Kenji’s eyes widened in shock. He slapped his forehead. "The dungeon core! How could I have forgotten?" he exclaimed, delight coloring his voice as he fiddled with the core.

This crystal was the key to his whole quest.

When a dungeon boss is defeated, the dungeon collapses, having fulfilled its purpose. What remains is a dungeon core—a crystal akin to a beast core, but one with the ability to elevate the level of its holder.

Kenji’s initial instinct was to use it immediately. But if he did, it would come at a cost: he’d lose his chance to report the quest completion to the Adventurer’s Guild—or worse, get assigned another grueling task.

Sweeping himself off the ground, Kenji smiled proudly. "Finally, after this, that receptionist lady won’t be able to do a thing to me!" Happiness overflowed on his face as he tucked the core safely away. His hands tightened around the crystal momentarily, as though he could feel the weight of the opportunities and challenges it represented.

Haruka chuckled softly. "Alright, Master, I get that you’re excited. But we must continue our journey now. The children must be waiting with immense anticipation," she reminded him, her gaze flickering toward the direction of the cave.

Kenji nodded. "Let’s go!" he said, jumping onto Haruka’s back. As she bolted forward, her movements smooth and steady, Kenji decided it was the perfect time to ask something that had been gnawing at his mind.

"Hey, Haruka!"

"Yes, Master?" she responded inquisitively.

"What were you doing near the dungeon when I first met you? And how do you know those bastards who wanted to harm my babies?" Kenji asked, his voice hardening as his thoughts grew darker.

If he ever met those people again, he knew in his heart—he’d wipe out their entire lineage!

Haruka slowed down slightly, her ears flicking backward as she heard the question. She took a deep breath before replying, carefully weighing her words.

"My race, the Cloud Moon Foxes, are a special kind of bestial race," she began, her voice steady but laced with sorrow. "We were known for our ability to awaken powerful beings from another realm through the use of our blood—a sacrifice."

Kenji’s brows furrowed, and he remained silent, letting her continue.

"Our bloodline was highly sought after. When we were sacrificed, the being summoned with our blood would consume our flesh and drink our blood—it was the only thing that could satisfy them. After consuming us, the summoned entity would grant unimaginable power to those who performed the ritual, then return to its slumber. The culprits would be left with great power, free to hunt more Cloud Moon Foxes to fuel their greed."

Her voice cracked slightly, but she pushed through. "Because of this, my race slowly became extinct, leaving me as the last survivor. A few days ago, I was poisoned with the Chaos Bind Pill, locking away my powers for good. I thought I’d never use them again, but something inside me broke through the pill’s effects when I tried to save your children. Somehow, my powers awakened long enough to stall those bastards until you arrived."

Her pink eyes welled with tears. Though she spoke calmly, the pain in her words was undeniable.

"I had once hoped to save my race," Haruka continued, "to find a way to bring them back. But now, my goal has changed. You are my master, and I must follow you dutifully."

Kenji felt a pang in his chest. Even though she didn’t shed her tears, the pained expression on her face and the heaviness in her movements spoke volumes of her sorrow and loneliness.

Gently, Kenji reached out and stroked her fur. "Haruka, even though I’ve only known you for a few hours, I want to say I’m sorry."

Haruka blinked, confused. "Sorry? You didn’t do anything wrong. Sniff!" Her voice wavered slightly, betraying her fragile emotions.

"No, I didn’t do anything," Kenji admitted. "But my people—the humans—did. On behalf of them all, I apologize to you. And I promise..."

"You promise me what?" she asked, her voice softening as she exhaled deeply, trying to calm herself.

"I promise you that I’ll find a way. I’ll find a way to bring your race back to its peak. You might be the last one, but I swear to you—you won’t be alone forever."

Haruka froze, her breath hitching as Kenji’s words sunk in. Then, for the first time since they had met, a tear escaped her eye, freefalling before disappearing into her pink fur.

"Thank you, Master! Thank you!" Haruka said, her voice trembling with emotion.

Kenji smiled softly, letting her feel the sincerity in his promise. Deep in his heart, he felt the weight of the task ahead—and the determination to fulfill it.

---

A few minutes passed in silence before Kenji spoke again. "Haruka, this may seem offensive, but can I ask another question? About your bloodline?"

Haruka’s ears perked slightly. "Sure, Master. Ask away."

"Well," Kenji began, "you’re a legendary bloodline beast, while Argoth is a Tier 3 monster. Judging by your equivalent levels of strength, shouldn’t you be stronger than him? Why did you seem weaker while fighting him?"

Unlike what Kenji anticipated, Haruka showed no signs of offense. "That’s a reasonable question," she replied. "But the answer is simple: I haven’t awakened my bloodline yet. Without awakening, I can’t fully utilize my true potential."

Kenji tilted his head, curiosity evident on his face. "Wait, you haven’t awakened your bloodline? How does that even work?"

"When beasts of the legendary bloodline are born, they must undergo a tribal ritual to awaken their bloodline and unlock their full power. But since I’m the only one left, I have no idea what the ritual entails or how to perform it," Haruka explained, her voice carrying a hint of bitterness.

Kenji revealed an understanding expression, nodding slowly. "Ah, I see. That makes sense now."

Then, an idea struck him. "Maybe when we get to town, we can find something that explains the ritual. There has to be a book about it somewhere in the town’s main library," Kenji suggested, recalling the large library situated near the Adventurer’s Guild in the town plaza.

Haruka’s eyes brightened. "Alright! You’ll take me there, and I’ll see what I can find," she said eagerly, her earlier sadness giving way to a spark of hope.

---

As they approached the cave, faint whimpers could be heard from within—soft voices, trembling with fear and sadness.

Kenji’s heart ached. His mind raced with thoughts of the children waiting for him, likely crying over his absence. Their tiny voices carried through the air like whispers of heartbreak, tugging at his resolve.

"Don’t worry, my babies. Daddy’s coming," he whispered softly, his voice filled with resolve.

With Haruka’s steady steps, they entered the cave, leaving the dawn shadows behind.

-_+_-_&_-__&&_&_&__

Hey guys! Don’t forget to comment and review on this book. It would really mean a lot to me. Also, shout out to:

• MoonHunter

• Janet_Warden_8471

• m_oboyl

For being the first three people to give my book a golden ticket. I really appreciate it and feel incredibly motivated to continue writing.

Thank you all for even reading my book up to this point, I was a bit scared that it was whack and you guys didn’t like it.

Anyways, I grant you three the power to ask me for a character of your choosing, or Kenji’s next tamed beast, but this offer is only valid for this week. ( I’ll be better off if you don’t reply to this)