Guardian Instincts

Chapter 5: Guardian Instincts

After spending three years diligently constructing his tower and honing his skills through intense training, Dante, now a 10-year-old boy, had developed a more muscular and sturdy physique from his efforts. His hands had toughened to the point where he could shatter wood with a single punch. However, Dante's daily routine was about to take an unexpected turn.

Driven by a growing curiosity, Dante decided to venture a bit further beyond his usual boundaries. He explored the surrounding forest, only to find the landscape mostly unchanged. The forest stretched out before him, seemingly endless and unremarkable. Yet, amidst his leisurely exploration, a sound caught his attention—a soft, almost puppy-like whimper.

Dante's heart raced as he followed the sound, his instincts guiding him. What he discovered was a sight he hadn't anticipated: the same tiger-like creature that had attacked him when he first arrived in this world. But this time, it was different. The creature, though resembling a baby tiger, was injured and in grave danger, locked in a fierce battle with an unfamiliar, beetle-like monster.

Without hesitation, Dante stepped in to defend the injured creature, driven by an instinct he didn't fully understand. He skillfully evaded the beetle-like monster's attacks, his training paying off as he managed to dodge its massive claws. His determination to protect the injured creature fueled his movements.

As Dante fought valiantly, he managed to create an opening, allowing him to snatch up the injured tiger-like creature and make a daring escape. However, the creature resisted, biting Dante's left little finger in its fear and desperation. Undeterred, Dante clung to his resolve to save the injured creature, despite the pain.

Running as if his life depended on it, Dante carried the injured creature back to his makeshift home. The journey was perilous, and both of them were left battered and bloody by the time they reached the sanctuary of the area near the tranquil pond. Exhausted and wounded, Dante's world dimmed as he lost consciousness, his small body crumpling near the water's edge.

Beside him, the injured puppy-like creature lay, its labored breaths and battered form a testament to the intense struggle it had endured. The chapter ends with both Dante and the creature lying injured and unconscious by the pond's edge, their fates intertwined in a bond that had formed unexpectedly.