Rain combed through the forest like a woman possessed.

Her boots crushed fallen leaves as she pushed past a thick curtain of vines, scanning every patch of light that broke through the branches.

"I'm sure it's around here…" she muttered under her breath. Sweat beaded her forehead, but her steps didn't slow.

She hadn't been in this class in the original timeline. But now, as a regressor, she intended to grab every single advantage she could.

"Where that guy found the Phoenix Egg…" she whispered with her eyes darting left and right.

That egg was the reason he rose to fame… the one who had been blessed by the world itself.

After the egg hatched, he'd earned fame, influence, and power beyond reason and also became Reinhardt's best friend.

Rain had died too early to witness how far he went with it, but one thing was certain… she wouldn't let him have it this time.

"I'll use it better than him anyway," she muttered, brushing past another bush.

Then she froze.

Up ahead, surrounded by charred earth and melted leaves, lay the object of her search… a massive, glowing egg.

Its surface glowed like molten gold and it gave off heat. Trees around it had bent and burned, the soil blackened to glass.

Rain's breath caught in her throat. "Finally…"

The heat stung her face as she stepped closer determinedly.

Usually, Nyala's teasing voice would have echoed in her mind.

But this time, there was only silence.

'It's been a while… why isn't she talking?'

Still, she couldn't worry about that now.

Her excitement vanished the instant she saw movement on the other side of the clearing.

There… the very same young man from the old timeline, walking toward the egg.

Her heart sank. She could already see it happening: the moment his hand touched it, the bond would form.

The Phoenix would be his.

However… not this time.

She burst into a sprint, the forest floor shaking underfoot.

The boy noticed her and ran too.

Their gazes locked, it was clear that they were both unwilling to lose.

"Move!" she shouted.

But he didn't.

Rain's hand lit up, holy light swirling around her fingers, forming into a brilliant orb.

"Sorry about this," she apologized. The orb expanded, burning brighter until it erupted into a blinding beam.

The holy blast cut through the trees, striking the ground just before the boy and exploding outward in a deafening wave.

Heat and light swallowed everything for a moment.

The shockwave rippled through the forest.

…

'Ah… what's going on there?'

Azel stopped mid-step, looking toward the distant plume of light that burst into the sky. He could feel the holy mana vibrating through the trees.

"Is she doing something again?" he muttered, recognizing Rain's signature energy.

But he shook the thought off.

"Besides, Erblim," he said, glancing at the crow perched on his shoulder, "are you sure this is the right direction? We've been walking for five minutes now."

"I told you, Master," Erblim cawed in annoyance. "It's far, but we're close. Just a little farther ahead."

Azel sighed. "You said that three times already."

He brushed past a low-hanging branch and then stopped as he stepped into a clearing bathed in silver light.

Sylvia was already there.

She was kneeling on the ground with her blond hair gleaming like the sun as she gently petted small, fluffy creatures that looked like something out of a dream.

"Oh, you're here?" she said, glancing up with a soft smile. "I was thinking of forming a familiar contract with one."

Azel blinked. The clearing was filled with dozens of the creatures… soft, silvery-furred beasts with long ears and round eyes.

They looked more like pets than battle familiars.

"I thought you'd want something more… intimidating," he said.

Sylvia tilted her head, still stroking one's fur. "Don't you do your research on familiars, Azel?"

He crossed his arms. "Enlighten me."

"These are called Silverhain Furries," she said. "If you form a contract with one, you receive two familiar skills. They may appear harmless, but they are treasured in elven lands for a reason."

Azel crouched down, studying them. "And what are these skills?"

Sylvia lifted her chin slightly, proud to explain. "The first is called Furry Body. It allows the user to envelop their body in a layer of spectral fur, soft yet strong enough to block most physical attacks. The fur absorbs impact and converts a portion of it into mana."

"Not bad," Azel admitted. "And the second?"

"The second is Veil." She paused. "When activated, the familiar's mana merges with yours, forming a translucent barrier that disguises your energy signature. It renders detection spells far less effective and weakens tracking magic."

Azel raised a brow. "A defensive and stealth combo… no wonder you want one."

"Precisely." She smiled faintly, continuing to pet the creature's head. The Silverhain purred.

Azel looked around the clearing. There were at least twenty of them, scattered like little balls of living starlight.

System screens appeared above their heads as he focused.

[Silverhain Furry, Rank 5]

[Silverhain Furry, Rank 5]

[Silverhain Furry, Rank 5]

[Royal Silverhain Furry, Rank 5]

His eyes immediately locked onto the last one.

It sat apart from the others, perched on a small stone like it owned the world.

Its fur was darker… a silvery black color and its tail was tipped with violet.

"I think I've found what I want," Azel said, walking forward.

Sylvia looked up and warned. "Azel… I do not think that is wise. The Royal type—"

But he was already crouching before the creature.

The Royal Silverhain raised its head, staring straight at him.

It was looking down on him…

Azel reached out a hand anyway.

The moment his fingers brushed the air between them, the creature's ears twitched. Its eyes flashed, and an overwhelming wave of mana erupted outward.

"Wait—!" Sylvia's voice was drowned by the sound.

The Royal Silverhain howled.

It wasn't a small sound. It was a thunderous, piercing cry that made the ground vibrate and sent every leaf flying into the air.

Wind exploded outward in all directions, uprooting grass and tearing through the clearing.

The smaller Silverhains yelped and scurried away, while the shockwave hit Azel full force though he wasn't pushed back at all.

'Damn… that's some power for something so fluffy.'

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