The Familiar Forest was… well, familiar. At least, that's what Rias called it. To me, it looked like something straight out of a fantasy nightmare. Towering trees with twisted branches loomed overhead, their leaves glowing faintly in the dim light. The air was thick with the scent of magic and something else—something wild and untamed. Strange creatures darted through the shadows, their eyes glinting as they watched us pass. It was like the forest itself was alive, and it wasn't exactly thrilled to have visitors.

  Great, I thought, shoving my hands into my pockets. Just what I needed. A magical forest that probably wants to eat me. Why does my life always turn into some kind of RPG dungeon?

  "So," I said, gncing at Rias, who was walking beside me with her usual grace. "This is the pce where I'm supposed to find my 'perfect match,' huh? Looks more like a pce where I'm gonna get eaten."

  Rias chuckled, her crimson hair swaying as she walked. She had that way of making even the most dangerous situations seem like a casual stroll in the park. "Oh, Kazuya, always so dramatic. The Familiar Forest is a pce of bonding and destiny. The right familiar will find you."

  "Yeah, sure," I muttered, gncing at a pair of glowing eyes in the bushes. "And if it doesn't, I'll just end up as some monster's lunch. Great."

  Akeno, walking on my other side, giggled behind her fan. Her voice was like honey, sweet but with a hint of mischief. "You're such a pessimist, Kazuya. Think of it as an adventure! Who knows? You might find something truly special."

  "Or something that wants to rip my face off," I shot back, giving her a sideways gnce. "Either way, it's a win-win."

  Why does Akeno always sound like she's enjoying my suffering? I thought, shaking my head. Then again, that's just her way of showing affection. I think.

  Kiba, who was trailing behind us with Koneko, smirked. "Rex, Kazuya. You've faced worse"

  "Don't remind me about it" I groaned, running a hand through my hair.

  Koneko, munching on a bag of chips, looked up at me with her usual deadpan expression. "You'll be fine. Probably."

  "Probably?" I echoed, raising an eyebrow. "You're really filling me with confidence here, Koneko."

  She shrugged and went back to her chips.

  . . .

  We soon arrived at a clearing where a strange old man stood waiting leaning on the tree. He looked like he is the father of Ash Ketchum that we never got to see in our childhood. So this is where he was all along.

  "Ah, Rias Gremory!" he said, fixing his cap "It's been a while. And who is this young man you've brought with you?"

  "This is Kazuya," Rias said, gesturing to me with a smile that was equal parts pride and amusement. "He's here to find a familiar."

  The Familiar Master—because of course that's what he was called—looked me up and down, his gaze piercing. "Hmm. Interesting. You have a unique aura, young man. Powerful, yet… chaotic. The forest will test you."

  "Great," I said, crossing my arms.

  The Familiar Master chuckled, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "The forest will guide you to the familiar that best suits your nature. But be warned! not all familiars are friendly. Some may see you as prey."

  "Fantastic," I muttered under my breath.

  Rias pced a hand on my shoulder, her touch surprisingly reassuring. "Trust the forest, Kazuya. And trust yourself. You'll know when you've found the right one."

  I sighed, running a hand through my hair. "Alright, fine. But if I end up with a talking toaster, I'm bming you."

  Akeno giggled, her fan hiding her smile. "Oh, Kazuya, you say the funniest things. But don't worry, I'm sure you'll find something… terrifying."

  "Terrifying?" I repeated, narrowing my eyes at her. "That's not reassuring, Akeno."

  She just smiled wider, her eyes sparkling with amusement. "You'll see~"

  As I excused myself to venture deeper into the forest, Rias called after me. "Kazuya, wait! If you're looking for something powerful, you might consider a Hydra. They're incredibly strong and resilient. But be careful—they're also highly dangerous and evil by nature."

  I paused, gncing back at her. "A Hydra, huh? Sounds like my kind of challenge" If I can't tame it, I'll just turn it into a shadow soldier. Either way, it's joining my army.

  Rias tilted her head, her expression a mix of curiosity and concern. "You're really set on this, aren't you?"

  Akeno stepped forward, her fan snapping shut with a sharp click. "Just don't get yourself killed, Kazuya. We'd miss you too much."

  "Then I better not return!"

  . . .

  As I walked deeper into the forest, a thought hit me like a punch to the gut. "Wait," I muttered, stopping in my tracks. "I forgot to ask where the hell I'm supposed to find this Hydra. Great. Just great."

  I gnced back in the direction I'd come from. If I went back now, I'd never hear the end of it. Rias would tease me, Akeno would ugh, and Koneko would probably just stare at me like I was an idiot. No way was I giving them that satisfaction.

  Alright, Kazuya, I said to myself, taking a deep breath. You've got enhanced senses. Use them. How hard can it be to find a giant, multi-headed snake?

  I closed my eyes, focusing on the energy around me. The forest was alive with it—pulses of magic, the faint hum of creatures moving through the underbrush. And then, there it was. A dark, oppressive aura radiating from deeper within the forest. That had to be it.

  "Gotcha," I said, opening my eyes and smirking. "Let's see what you got, Hydra."

  . . .

  As I moved deeper into the forest, I suddenly found myself surrounded. A pack of blood hounds emerged from the shadows, their eyes glowing red and their fangs bared. They circled me, growling low in their throats.

  "Oh, come on," I said, rolling my eyes. "I don't have time for this."

  One of the hounds lunged at me, and I raised a hand, freezing it mid-air. The others hesitated, their growls turning to whimpers as I smirked "Now stay out of my way."

  With a flick of my wrist, the hounds turned to ice statues, their expressions frozen in fear. I stepped past them and turning into them shadow soldiers, "Amateurs."

  I hadn't gone much farther when a voice stopped me in my tracks. "My, my, what do we have here? A lost little boy in the big, scary forest?"

  I looked up to see a woman sitting on a tree branch, her legs swinging pyfully. She had long blonde hair, smooth white skin, and a bck cloth covering her eyes. Her white robe fluttered in the breeze, and her smile was as sharp as a knife.

  Who the hell is this now? I thought, narrowing my eyes. First blood hounds, now this? This forest really doesn't like me.

  "Who the hell are you?" I asked, crossing my arms.

  She tilted her head, her smile widening. "Oh, just a friendly passerby. But you really shouldn't be wandering around here all alone. It's dangerous."

  "Yeah, I've heard that before," I said, rolling my eyes. "Thanks for the warning, but I've got things to do. So if you'll excuse me…"

  I tried to walk past her, but she dropped down in front of me, blocking my path. "Now, now, don't be rude. I was just trying to help."

  "Help?" I repeated, raising an eyebrow. "By sitting in a tree and making snarky comments? Yeah, real helpful."

  She giggled, her voice dripping with amusement. "You're funny. I like you. But you really should listen to me. This forest isn't kind to intruders."

  I sighed, running a hand through my hair. "Look, dy, I don't have time for this. Either get out of my way, or I'll move you myself."

  Her smile turned dangerous. "Oh? Is that a challenge?"

  Before I could respond, she attacked, a spell flying from her fingertips. I dodged, my reflexes kicking in as I gred at her. "Alright, you asked for it."

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