《Biometric Beastmaster.》


 Chapter 1: Awakening Day.

    The younger ones were always the worst.


    I crouched near the edge of the juvenile section, carefully measuring out a portion of mana-infused grain into the feeding trough.


    The moment the scent hit the air, a frenzy erupted. Half a dozen golden-hand monkey pups launched themselves toward the trough, their tiny hands grasping and swiping as if they hadn¡¯t eaten in weeks¡ªnever mind the fact that I had just fed them this morning.


    "Hey¡ªhey! One at a time, you little gremlins!" I yanked the wooden scoop back before one particularly bold monkey could snatch it away. The little thief let out a chirping laugh before darting back into the pile, disappearing beneath a mass of writhing fur, tails, and flashing golden hands.


    This section of the enclosure housed the youngest monkeys¡ªbarely a year old, still developing their abilities. They weren¡¯t as dangerous as the adults, but they were far more trouble.


    They had boundless energy, unpredictable behavior, and absolutely no sense of restraint. If I wasn¡¯t careful, they¡¯d get into places they weren¡¯t supposed to, steal whatever wasn¡¯t nailed down, and somehow blame it all on me.


    I sighed, adjusting my gloves as I reached for the next sack of feed. The enclosure was one of the biggest in the region, divided into different sections depending on the monkeys¡¯ age, size, and stage of evolution.


    Further in, past the reinforced gates, were the adolescent sections, where the monkeys had grown larger and started developing stronger abilities.


    Beyond that, in the farthest and most heavily fortified area, were the adults¡ªfully matured, fully evolved, and capable of devastating techniques.


    No one entered the adult zone alone. Not even my father.


    "Akul!"


    I jolted at the sound of my mother¡¯s voice. It carried over the enclosure walls, cutting through the usual noise of chittering, screeching, and the occasional crackle of stray magic.


    "Coming!" I called back, but not before an opportunistic little monster took advantage of my distraction.


    A monkey pup leapt onto my back, its tiny golden hands gripping my tunic as it used me like a climbing tree. I groaned, feeling it tug at my hair while its friends gathered around to watch.


    "Oh, you think this is funny?" I reached back, grabbing the little troublemaker by the scruff. It let out a playful chirp, tail flicking in amusement. "You¡¯re lucky I don¡¯t put you in time-out."


    I set it down, dusted off my sleeves, and quickly secured the feed sacks before any more of them got ideas. Then I made my way toward the outer gate, slipping through the sturdy wooden doors and locking them behind me.


    My mother was waiting just outside, arms crossed, lips pressed together in that way that told me I had taken too long.


    "You were supposed to finish half an hour ago," she said.


    I winced. "They were extra greedy today."


    "They¡¯re always extra greedy. You give them an inch, they¡¯ll take your whole boot." She gestured toward the house. "Come on. Your father¡¯s waiting."


    I followed, wiping my hands on my tunic.


    The house sat just beyond the main enclosure¡ªa solid stone structure, reinforced with enchantments to keep out any wandering beasts that got too curious. Inside, the scent of burning herbs and aged parchment filled the air, mingling with the faint metallic tang of ink.


    My father sat at the central table, an enormous book open before him. He wasn¡¯t looking at it, though. His sharp eyes were fixed on me the moment I stepped inside.


    "Akul," he said, his voice steady. "It¡¯s time."


    I felt my stomach tighten.


    Today was my Awakening Day.


    Most kids in the village dreamed about this moment their whole lives. It was the day you discovered if your soul was strong enough to manifest an artifact¡ªa physical representation of your inner power. A summoner¡¯s core tool.


    Some would awaken weapons, like summoning rings or gauntlets that allowed them to channel mana into binding magic. Others would manifest tomes, pendants, or even familiars¡ªartifacts that granted them the ability to call forth creatures of their own.


    Not everyone received one.


    Those who didn¡¯t¡­ well, they could still live normal lives, but their paths became limited. A person without an artifact could never become a true summoner, never forge a contract with a high-tier beast.


    And in a world where summoning was everything, that meant they would always be left behind.


    I swallowed, sitting down at the table.


    For some reason, my mind wasn¡¯t focused on the awakening itself. It was still lingering on the dream I¡¯d had last night.Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site.


    A dream of¡­ another life.


    A world of metal towers, glowing screens, and something called "social media" I could remember people dancing, short videos flashing one after another, the rush of instant gratification. It was all so bizarre, yet painfully familiar¡ªlike a memory that didn¡¯t belong to me, but still clung to the edges of my thoughts.


    And the older I got, the clearer these memories became.


    I shook my head, forcing myself to focus. I didn''t understand why those thoughts had to come now, in such an important moment. But that wasn¡¯t my real life anyway¡ªit was just a stupid dream.


    Right now, the only thing that mattered was this moment.


    I took a breath, placing my hands on the table.


    The house was silent, save for the distant chittering of golden-hand monkeys in the enclosure outside. The smell of burning incense curled through the air, its faintly bitter scent grounding me in the moment. Across the table, my father sat, his fingers resting lightly on the open pages of his artifact¡ªa thick, ancient grimoire that looked as if it had seen decades of use. The pages shimmered faintly, not with ink, but with living mana, shifting and flowing beneath the surface like a river of knowledge.


    That book was the heart of his summoning.


    My father¡¯s grimoire hummed softly as he ran his fingers over the enchanted pages. Symbols flickered beneath his touch, shifting like living ink, responding to his will. The book wasn¡¯t just a relic¡ªit was an extension of his very being, forged through his own awakening decades ago.


    I had always admired it.


    And if everything went well today, I would have my own.


    I swallowed, keeping my hands pressed against the wooden table. My mother stood off to the side, watching, arms folded but silent. She wouldn¡¯t interfere. This was between my father and me.


    "Listen carefully, Akul," my father said, his voice steady. "Awakening isn¡¯t complicated, but it requires absolute focus. If your mind wavers, if your visualization is weak, your artifact will be weak as well. And you won¡¯t get a second chance."


    I nodded, inhaling slowly.


    "You¡¯re about to look inward," he continued, flipping a page in his grimoire. The symbols on the parchment glowed faintly, reacting to his touch. "Your soul is like unshaped clay, waiting to be molded. To forge your artifact, you must take hold of that essence and give it form. But it¡¯s not just about forcing it into a shape. You must understand it, guide it, let it become what it is meant to be."


    I exhaled, already feeling the weight of the moment settle over me.


    "Akul." My father¡¯s voice was calm, steady. "I will guide you through the process, but understand¡ªthis is your soul¡¯s journey. I can only show you the path. You must walk it yourself."


    I nodded, my hands pressed against the wooden table. I turned to look at my mother; she stood nearby, silent but supportive. I could see the nervousness in her eyes as she nodded in my direction, affirming that everything would be okay, but still she didn''t say a word.


    This was a long-standing tradition. The elders of the family, the one who bore an artifact, would be the guide. My mother was the one without an artifact.


    My father lifted his hand, mana swirling between his fingers. "Close your eyes."


    I obeyed.


    A faint warmth spread through the air as he began to chant, his voice low and deliberate. The words weren¡¯t in our common tongue, but in an ancient summoner¡¯s dialect, a language that resonated not with the ears, but with the soul. The mana in the room thickened, like the air itself was vibrating.


    Then, his voice reached its peak.


    "Vas¡¯tor unkai... Drenva solis... Uth kai¡¯reth ven!"


    "Now it''s on you son, feel your breath. Your heartbeat. The mana in your veins. Let everything else fade."


    For a few moments, I was just sitting in the dark, listening to the faint crackle of a candle, the distant chirping outside. Then, slowly, the world shifted.


    A sudden pull¡ªlike something yanking me inward.


    My breath caught, my mind tumbling, falling¡ª


    And then, I was somewhere else.


    The darkness behind my eyelids deepened, turning vast, endless. I felt as if I were falling, weightless, drifting through something not quite real, but not quite a dream either.


    Then I saw it.


    A place that wasn¡¯t here.


    Tall steel towers, endless streams of light, the glow of screens flashing past my vision. It was familiar¡ªso familiar it made my breath hitch. I had been here before. Or at least, someone had. A past me? A different me? The thought sent a shiver down my spine, but I couldn¡¯t focus on that.


    Because i had something more important to do.


    It was to create A grimoire¡ªnot my father¡¯s, not any book I had seen in this world, but something different.


    A sudden panic hit me.


    Was this okay?


    Was I supposed to be remembering this? Should I fight it? Should I push it away?


    I gritted my teeth, trying to ground myself, to force the vision back into something that felt normal¡ªsomething of this world, not the last. But the harder I fought, the more the memories pushed back, like a tide I couldn¡¯t control.


    I wasn¡¯t winning this battle.


    So I stopped fighting.


    The moment I did it all felt more natural, like it ment to be.


    I let it all in.


    The moment I did, everything snapped into place. The swirling energy, the depth of my visualization, the sheer clarity of it¡ªit was beyond what I had expected.


    A Room From Another Life


    The dim glow of a computer monitor bathed the small room in bluish light. A mechanical keyboard clicked softly beneath my fingers, my hand gripping a sleek, ergonomic mouse. On the screen¡ª


    A game.


    Not just any game.


    The Grand Codex System.


    The title hovered in elegant, arcane lettering, the UI sleek and immersive.


    My character¡ªa summoner clad in dark robes¡ªstood in front of a floating tome, its cover intricately engraved, pulsing with energy.


    I knew this.


    I had played this.


    The realization hit me like a punch to the chest. This was my past life. I wasn¡¯t in a dream or some random vision¡ªthis was an exact memory, down to the faint hum of the computer fan, the half-empty soda can on the desk, the slight ache in my wrist from hours of clicking.


    I had spent countless nights grinding in this game, theory-crafting builds, optimizing summon formations, perfecting my grimoire-based summoning style.


    And now¡­ it was here. This was also part of me, for some reason it felt very important to me. I felt like for many many years... this game was a big part of my life.


    My past life and my current life were colliding.


    I turned my attention back to the screen. The grimoire floated before my character, waiting.


    I remembered this moment.


    The moment my character claimed the codex after years of grinding, unlocking every achievement, and reaching the pinnacle of my summoner¡¯s build.


    I reached for the mouse.


    Clicked.


    And as my character extended his hands toward the grimoire¡ª


    The screen glowed brighter.


    No¡ªit wasn¡¯t the screen.


    The light was seeping out of it, engulfing the entire room, swallowing the desk, the monitor, the walls¡ª


    Everything fractured¡ª


    I gasped.


    A little overwhelmed by all that was going on.


    My mind now empty, the place serene, and calm.


    I now remember that i had to visualize the shape of my artifact core.


    Just when I thought of that¡­ it happened.


    I could feel the texture of the grimoire, the weight of it in my hands. The way the mana pulsed beneath the surface, forming intricate circuits of power.


    And then¡ªI knew what to do.


    I took hold of the essence, this swirling mass of self, and began to shape it. The knowledge from my past life guided me, but my instincts, who I was now, gave it purpose. The book in my vision became real, its form solidifying, the engravings etching themselves in deeper, the mana circuits stabilizing.


    It was mine.


    It was me.


    It was what I desired most for many years.


    A flash. A spark. And then¡ªreality snapped back into place.


    I gasped, eyes flying open.


    The air crackled with lingering mana. My father sat completely still, his gaze locked onto the table in front of me. My mother had stepped forward, her arms no longer crossed. There was a sharp intake of breath, a moment of utter silence.


    And then, I looked down.


    Lying on the wooden table, resting between my outstretched hands, was a book. It was comparatively smaller than my father¡¯s, but it was not a crude, faintly forged artifact.


    It was A masterpiece. A complex, solid creation.


    The cover was a deep, polished black, laced with glowing silver runes that shifted ever so slightly, like they were alive. The edges gleamed with a faint metallic sheen, and when I reached out to touch it, the surface was warm, pulsing as if it had a heartbeat of its own.


    My father exhaled slowly.


    "That''s¡­" he murmured, the rest of the words left unspoken.


    I swallowed, my hands trembling slightly as I lifted it. The weight felt perfect¡ªbalanced, right. A part of me, yet something beyond me at the same time.


    I had done it.


    I had awakened.


    And somehow, I knew¡­ this was just the beginning.


    Side note For those curious


    "Vas¡¯tor" ¡ú Open the gate (literally "unseal the passage")


    "Unkai" ¡ú Gate (or portal, threshold)


    "Drenva" ¡ú Enter (deeply, with purpose)


    "Solis" ¡ú Soul (also can mean essence or life force)


    "Uth" ¡ú And


    "Kai¡¯reth" ¡ú Forge (shape, mold, bring into existence)


    "Ven" ¡ú What lies within (truth within, inner essence)

 Chapter 2: A Mothers Tears, A Fathers Pride

    The room was still. The weight of the moment settled over us, heavy and undeniable.


    The grimoire lay before me, pulsing softly, as if it were breathing. The runes along its edges glowed with a quiet intensity, shifting in patterns I didn¡¯t recognize. My fingers hovered over the cover, hesitant to move, hesitant to break the stillness.


    Then, a sudden choked breath broke the silence.


    I turned¡ªmy mother had a hand over her mouth, her eyes glistening. Her shoulders trembled slightly, and when she finally exhaled, it came out shaky, uneven.


    ¡°You did it¡­¡± she whispered, voice thick with emotion.


    She took a step forward, then another, until she was standing beside me. Before I could react, she wrapped her arms around me, pulling me into a tight embrace.


    I felt her shaking¡ªnot with fear, but with relief.


    ¡°I was so scared,¡± she murmured, her voice muffled against my hair. ¡°I was so scared you wouldn¡¯t awaken¡­¡±


    I didn¡¯t know what to say. I had never seen my mother cry before. She had always been strong, firm, the kind of woman who ran an entire breeding operation with no hesitation, no fear.


    But now¡­ she was just a mother.


    A mother who had once failed her own awakening.


    I understood, in that moment, just how deeply this had weighed on her.


    Slowly, I returned the embrace.


    ¡°¡­I awakened, Mom,¡± I said quietly. ¡°I did it.¡±


    She let out a soft, trembling laugh, pulling back just enough to cup my face. Her hands were warm, her touch gentle, but her eyes were still wet.


    ¡°I¡¯m so proud of you,¡± she whispered. ¡°So, so proud.¡±


    A deep chuckle cut through the moment.


    ¡°See, Leina? You worried for nothing,¡± my father said, leaning back in his chair, arms crossed. His smile was wide, genuine. ¡°All those visualization sessions I made him do? Looks like they paid off.¡±


    I hesitated, the memory of what had just happened flashing through my mind.


    The vision. The game. The past life bleeding into this world.


    If only you knew, Father.


    I wasn¡¯t about to tell him.


    So instead, I nodded. ¡°Yes. Thank you, Father¡­ for the training.¡±


    He let out another satisfied chuckle, clearly pleased.


    Then, he leaned forward, his gaze sharpening. ¡°Now, let¡¯s get to the next step. You need to learn how to properly control your artifact.¡±


    ¡°Every artifact,¡± my father explained, ¡°is bound to its wielder¡¯s soul. You don¡¯t need to carry your grimoire at all times. Instead, you can store it within yourself and summon it at will.¡±


    I frowned slightly. ¡°Like¡­ inside my body?¡±


    ¡°No. Inside your soul.¡±


    He tapped his own chest, right over his heart. ¡°It¡¯s not physical storage¡ªit¡¯s more like¡­ a connection. Your artifact is part of you now. It exists within your mana flow. You can call it forth and dismiss it at will.¡±If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    I looked down at my grimoire. The idea of storing it inside me sounded ridiculous, but¡­ this was magic. I had seen summoners pull weapons, rings, and tomes out of thin air before.


    ¡°How do I do it?¡±


    ¡°Focus,¡± my father instructed. ¡°Close your eyes. Feel the bond between you and the grimoire.¡±


    I did as he said.


    Immediately, I felt it.


    A thread¡ªa connection between me and the book. It was faint, but undeniably there, like a pulse just beneath my skin.


    ¡°Now, visualize pulling it back into yourself. Absorb it, like pulling breath into your lungs.¡±


    I focused.


    The grimoire trembled slightly¡ªthen, with a flicker of light, it vanished.


    I blinked, looking around. ¡°It¡¯s¡­ gone?¡±


    My father grinned. ¡°Not gone. Stored.¡±


    I frowned. ¡°How do I get it back?¡±


    He lifted a hand. ¡°Now do the opposite. Reach for it. Call it to you.¡±


    I concentrated again, imagining the book in my hands¡ª


    With a burst of light, it reappeared.


    I exhaled sharply, staring at it. That was¡­ surprisingly easy.


    My mother let out a breath of amazement. ¡°You got it on the first try¡­¡±


    Father¡¯s grin widened. ¡°Good. Now, let¡¯s open it.¡±


    ---


    I held the grimoire in my hands, feeling its warmth, the pulse of mana running through it like a heartbeat. The weight was perfect¡ªnot too heavy, not too light¡ªbalanced. Right.


    But the real test was inside.


    I hesitated.


    My father, noticing my pause, smirked. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Nervous?¡±


    I exhaled sharply, shaking my head. ¡°No. Just¡­ thinking.¡±


    My mother, standing beside me, gave a reassuring smile. ¡°Whatever is inside, Akul¡­ it is yours. It is a part of you. No matter what affinity you have, we¡¯ll support you.¡±


    My father folded his arms, his gaze thoughtful. ¡°Still¡­ it¡¯s good to think about the possibilities.¡±


    He leaned forward slightly, eyes gleaming. ¡°What do you think it¡¯ll be?¡±


    That was a good question.


    I swallowed, glancing down at the engraved runes on the grimoire¡¯s cover. Every summoner was different, but there were a few common affinities most people awakened.


    ¡°Maybe an elemental affinity?¡± I guessed. ¡°Fire, water, lightning? Those are common, right?¡±


    My father nodded. ¡°They are. Elemental summoners have the widest variety of contracts available. With fire, you could summon flame spirits, lava beasts, even phoenixes.¡±


    That sounded¡­ exciting. Versatile. Strong.


    ¡°But,¡± he continued, ¡°there are also special affinities. Rarer ones. Draconic. Mythic. Ghost. Psychic."


    My heartbeat picked up. Draconic? Mythic? If I awakened something like that¡­


    My father grinned, sensing my excitement. ¡°Draconic affinity would mean a high chance of contracting dragon-type beasts. Not just lesser wyverns, but true dragons, given time.¡±


    My mother chuckled softly. ¡°Akul and dragons. That would be a sight.¡±


    I felt a surge of hope. What if I really did have a top-tier affinity?


    Even war affinity would be amazing¡ªcommanding beasts of battle, creatures that led packs, armies, legions.


    I clenched my fists. Whatever was inside this book¡­ it would determine my entire path as a summoner.


    I took a breath.


    ¡°Alright,¡± I said. ¡°Let¡¯s find out.¡±


    I slowly opened the grimoire.


    The moment the cover lifted, an eerie pulse of mana rushed through the air. The pages inside were not normal parchment.


    They were black.


    Not just dark¡ªdeep, endless black, as if they weren¡¯t made of paper at all, but of something more¡­ alive. More arcane. The inky surface was glossy, almost like polished obsidian, yet it had a strange depth to it.


    It felt like if I stared too long, I might fall in.


    Then¡ªgolden text began to form.


    The words burned onto the page, bright and radiant, illuminating the darkness like stars against a void.


    And at the very top, my name appeared.


    A Name Etched in Gold


    ©¥©¥©¥ ¡ó ©¥©¥©¥


    Name: Akul Raiven


    Age: 12


    Artifact Type: Grimoire


    Contracted Beasts: 0


    Summoning Rank: Awakened Apprentice


    ©¥©¥©¥ ¡ó ©¥©¥©¥


    I stared at it, my breath catching.


    The golden text shimmered softly, shifting as if responding to my presence. The name, my name, stood bold and clear, marking this as mine¡ªundeniable proof that I had awakened.


    My mother gasped softly. ¡°It even records your information¡­¡±


    ¡°This is a rare format,¡± my father muttered, his voice laced with curiosity. ¡°Most grimoires don¡¯t display things this clearly. The black pages¡­ the golden inscriptions¡­ I¡¯ve never seen one like this before.¡±


    I swallowed, turning to the next page.


    More golden text appeared, unfolding like it was being written by an unseen hand.


    ©¥©¥©¥ ¡ó ©¥©¥©¥


    Affinity: ¨€¨€¨€¨€¨€¨€¨€¨€¨€¨€


    ©¥©¥©¥ ¡ó ©¥©¥©¥


    I frowned.


    ¡°¡­It¡¯s blank?¡±


    No. Not blank. Blurred.


    The golden light flickered¡ªthen sharpened.


    ©¥©¥©¥ ¡ó ©¥©¥©¥


    Affinity: Physical Type


    ©¥©¥©¥ ¡ó ©¥©¥©¥


    Silence.


    My mother let out a small, barely audible gasp. My father¡¯s smirk faded into something more serious, unreadable.


    ¡°¡­Physical?¡± my mother whispered.


    The weight of the word settled over the room.


    I felt my chest tighten.


    This wasn¡¯t elemental.


    This wasn¡¯t draconic.


    This wasn¡¯t war, mythic, psychic, or anything rare.


    It was physical.


    I clenched my jaw, forcing myself to stay calm. ¡°¡­Is that bad?¡±


    My mother hesitated. She looked at my father, searching his face, but he didn¡¯t speak immediately.


    Finally, she exhaled. ¡°It¡¯s not¡­ bad. Just¡­ difficult.¡±


    She bit her lip. ¡°Physical-type summoners struggle because they don¡¯t have elemental advantages. They don¡¯t bond with fire, ice, or light. Their contracts are harder to cultivate, and they don¡¯t grow in power as easily. You have to train differently.¡±


    She hesitated. ¡°¡­And raising physical-type beasts is much harder than elemental ones.¡±


    I felt a sinking sensation in my chest.


    My father, however, huffed out a short laugh.


    ¡°You¡¯re both overthinking this.¡±


    My mother turned to him, frowning. ¡°Hector¡ª¡±


    ¡°Leina, listen,¡± he said calmly. ¡°Physical affinity isn¡¯t a death sentence. It¡¯s just a different path.¡±


    He leaned back, rubbing his chin. ¡°Physical-type summoners don¡¯t rely on elemental reinforcement, sure. But their summons?¡±


    His eyes gleamed.


    ¡°They¡¯re monsters.¡±


    I blinked.


    ¡°Monsters?¡±


    ¡°Physical summons don¡¯t burn out mana like elemental creatures. They don¡¯t rely on spell-casting. They rely on raw strength, endurance, and combat ability. At their peak, they don¡¯t just fight¡ªthey tear through reality itself.¡±


    He grinned. ¡°They¡¯re tanks. Powerhouses. Beasts that don¡¯t fall easily. They might be slow to develop, but once they hit their stride¡­ they are nearly unstoppable.¡±


    I absorbed his words.


    This wasn¡¯t what I had been expecting. I had wanted something flashy, something powerful. Instead, I got something difficult.


    But¡­


    Difficult didn¡¯t mean weak.


    I clenched my fists.


    I wasn''t afraid of hard work. If strength is what my summons need, then I would make them the strongest."


    If this was my path, then I would walk it.


    I met my father¡¯s gaze, my resolve solidifying.


    ¡°I can handle it,¡± I said firmly.


    For a moment, my father just stared at me.


    Then, he grinned.


    ¡°That¡¯s my boy.¡±


    -

 Chapter 3: The First Step, The First Mystery.

    My father leaned back in his chair, tapping his fingers on the table as he considered the grimoire¡¯s golden pages. His expression was thoughtful, but not worried.


    ¡°Well,¡± he said finally, ¡°I suppose this makes things simpler.¡±


    I frowned. ¡°Simpler?¡±


    He smirked. ¡°Because I already know where we can get your first contracted beast.¡±


    I blinked. ¡°Wait¡ªyou already had something planned?¡±


    ¡°Not exactly planned,¡± he admitted, ¡°but I do know a man who specializes in physical-type beasts. He owes me a favor.¡±


    My mother, still standing close by, let out a small sigh of relief. ¡°That¡¯s good. We wouldn¡¯t want to waste too much time searching for a compatible creature.¡±


    My father nodded. ¡°He runs a small cultivation enclosure on the outskirts of town. Unlike our golden-hand monkeys, his beasts are bred specifically for physical-type summoners.¡±


    I leaned forward, interested. ¡°What kind of beasts?¡±


    ¡°Golden Body Monkeys.¡±


    I paused. ¡°That sounds¡­ familiar.¡±


    Father grinned. ¡°They¡¯re similar to the golden-hand monkeys we breed, but smaller, sturdier, and built purely for combat. They don¡¯t have elemental abilities, but they possess a unique trait¡ª¡±


    ¡°They can double their physical strength and speed for short bursts of time,¡± my mother finished, nodding.


    That caught my attention.


    ¡°¡­Double?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± My father¡¯s grin widened. ¡°They may not have elemental magic, but they make up for it in pure, raw strength. When properly trained, a golden body monkey can outmatch most beasts of its rank.¡±


    I sat back, considering. ¡°Then why aren¡¯t they popular?¡±


    My mother sighed. ¡°Because they¡¯re lazy.¡±


    I blinked. ¡°Lazy?¡±


    ¡°Very,¡± she emphasized. ¡°Golden body monkeys are notorious for spending most of their time either sleeping or eating. They don¡¯t like training, and if you don¡¯t push them, they¡¯ll grow fat and sluggish.¡±


    I frowned. ¡°¡­So, they¡¯re strong, but only if you can actually get them to work?¡±


    ¡°Exactly.¡± My father chuckled. ¡°Most summoners don¡¯t have the patience to train them properly. But if you can¡­¡± He smirked. ¡°Their ability to double their power makes them terrifying opponents. Especially in the early stages of development.¡±


    I processed that information.


    A lazy but incredibly strong beast¡­


    It honestly didn¡¯t sound too different from some of the golden-hand monkeys I worked with.


    And that meant¡­


    I could handle it.


    ¡°So,¡± I said slowly, ¡°you¡¯re saying¡­ if I train it properly, I¡¯ll have a beast that¡¯s way stronger than most others at my level?¡±


    My father¡¯s smirk deepened. ¡°Now you¡¯re thinking like a summoner.¡±


    My mother crossed her arms. ¡°It won¡¯t be easy, Akul.¡±


    I met her gaze, then nodded. ¡°I know.¡±


    ¡°¡­But you¡¯re willing to try?¡±


    I took a deep breath. Then I smiled.


    ¡°Yeah. I am.¡±


    For a moment, my mother just looked at me. Then, slowly, she smiled back.


    Father clapped his hands together. ¡°Good. We¡¯ll visit my friend¡¯s enclosure soon. But before that¡ª¡± He tapped the grimoire.


    ¡°We need to see what trait you¡¯ve unlocked.¡±


    ¡°Traits are just as important as affinities,¡± my father explained. ¡°If affinity determines what kind of beasts you can contract, then your trait determines how well you can raise them.¡±Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings.


    He gestured to the grimoire. ¡°Open the next page. That¡¯s where we¡¯ll find it.¡±


    I hesitated. ¡°What kind of traits exist?¡±


    ¡°Many,¡± he said. ¡°But they usually fall into one of three categories.¡±


    He lifted a finger. ¡°First¡ªDevelopment Traits. These enhance your ability to train and strengthen your beasts. They make raising creatures easier, help them evolve faster, and sometimes even allow you to influence their growth paths.¡±


    A second finger. ¡°Second¡ªBattle Traits. These allow summoners to enhance their beasts in combat. Some directly boost power or speed, others grant additional skills, and the strongest ones even allow summoners to fight alongside their creatures.¡±


    I raised an eyebrow. ¡°Fight alongside?¡±


    ¡°There are traits that let summoners temporarily merge with their beasts during battle,¡± my father confirmed. ¡°Or traits that give you a beast¡¯s physical capabilities while in their presence.¡±


    That¡­ sounded insane.


    He lifted a third finger. ¡°And lastly¡ªDefensive Traits. These focus on protection, healing, or support. Some allow you to shield your beasts. Others increase endurance, or even heal both you and your summons during battle.¡±


    ¡°So,¡± I summarized, ¡°a development trait makes it easier to train beasts. A battle trait makes them stronger in combat. And a defensive trait helps with survivability?¡±


    ¡°Exactly.¡± My father nodded. ¡°Each has its own advantages, but some are more suited to specific affinities.¡±


    I glanced at my mother. ¡°What do you think I¡¯ll get?¡±


    She hesitated. ¡°I¡­ don¡¯t know.¡±


    Her expression was careful. ¡°Physical-type summoners usually develop battle or development traits. But your grimoire is¡­ different. I wouldn¡¯t be surprised if yours is unique.¡±


    I swallowed. That wasn¡¯t exactly reassuring.


    ¡°Enough talking,¡± my father said. ¡°Let¡¯s see it.¡±


    I took a breath, then turned the page.


    And the moment I did¡ª


    A pulse of mana exploded from the grimoire.


    The air in the room shifted¡ªno, compressed, as if space itself was reacting.


    My mother took a step back. My father¡¯s eyes widened.


    And on the dark, bottomless page, golden letters began to etch themselves into existence.


    ©¥©¥©¥ ¡ó ©¥©¥©¥


    Trait: ¨€¨€¨€¨€¨€¨€¨€¨€¨€¨€


    ©¥©¥©¥ ¡ó ©¥©¥©¥


    The golden text flickered violently.


    The letters blurred¡ªunstable, shifting, changing.


    "Then, before I could read it¡­ Snap. The grimoire slammed shut on its own.


    The golden runes on the cover flashed brighter, then manifested in the air, locking my artifact in place and sealing the book''s contents.


    Silence.


    Then¡ª


    ¡°What¡­ just happened?¡± I whispered.


    My father exhaled slowly.


    ¡°¡­I don¡¯t know.¡±


    My mother¡¯s face was pale. ¡°It sealed itself.¡±


    Grimoires didn¡¯t do that.


    Traits were supposed to be revealed immediately.


    But mine¡­ Mine resisted.


    I swallowed.


    Something was different.


    And whatever my trait was¡­


    It wasn¡¯t normal.


    I frowned, staring at the sealed pages of my grimoire. The trait section had locked itself away before I could read it, leaving behind an uncomfortable silence in the room.


    The grimoire is still usable, but the trait page is completely sealed.


    ¡°¡­So, how do traits usually work?¡± I asked, breaking the tension.


    My father leaned back in his chair, arms crossed, considering my question.


    ¡°They¡¯re ranked,¡± he said. ¡°From F to SSS.¡±


    I raised an eyebrow. ¡°That extreme?¡±


    He smirked. ¡°It¡¯s a simple system. F is the weakest, SSS is the strongest. Most summoners awaken a trait somewhere between C and B. A-grade traits are rare. S and above? You might see one in a generation.¡±


    I nodded slowly. ¡°So, higher ranks mean better traits?¡±


    ¡°Not just better,¡± he corrected. ¡°Higher-ranked traits are more efficient, powerful, and adaptable. A C-grade battle trait might boost your beast¡¯s speed for a few seconds, while an S-grade version of the same trait might make them twice as fast for an entire fight.¡±


    That made sense.


    ¡°¡­And the grimoire said that traits can grow?¡±


    He nodded. ¡°It¡¯s rare, but yes. Some traits can develop through training, battle experience, or sheer luck. A B-grade trait can become A-grade over time. But that depends on the summoner.¡±


    I exhaled, tapping my fingers against the book. ¡°Alright¡­ but what about EX traits?¡±


    Father¡¯s expression shifted slightly.


    ¡°EX traits,¡± he murmured. ¡°Those are¡­ different.¡±


    I noticed the hesitation in his voice. ¡°How different?¡±


    He glanced at my mother, then back at me. ¡°An EX trait is locked. It has already reached its maximum potential from the moment you awaken it.¡±


    I frowned. ¡°So, no growth?¡±


    ¡°Exactly,¡± he confirmed. ¡°If a trait is B-rank EX, it will never become A-rank. If it¡¯s F-rank EX, it stays F forever.¡±


    I processed that. ¡°So, it¡¯s a double-edged sword?¡±


    Father nodded. ¡°You gain the full power of the trait immediately, making it the strongest skill at his rank, but you will never be able to evolve it further.¡±


    ¡°¡­And what about Unique traits?¡±


    He grinned. ¡°Those? Those are one of a kind.¡±


    I leaned forward. ¡°No one else in the world has them?¡±


    ¡°No one,¡± he confirmed. ¡°Most summoners awaken common traits, ones that other people share in different ranks. But Unique traits? Those are entirely new. Tailor-made for the person who awakens them.¡±


    I swallowed. That was¡­ huge.


    ¡°So, the ultimate combination would be a high-rank Unique EX trait?¡±


    Father chuckled. ¡°In theory, yes. But there¡¯s no guarantee that an EX trait will be high-ranked. There have been summoners who awakened F-rank EX traits¡ªcompletely useless, and they were stuck with them forever.¡±


    I winced. ¡°That¡¯s brutal.¡±


    He smirked. ¡°The world of summoners isn¡¯t fair, Akul. You get what you get.¡±


    A thought struck me.


    ¡°¡­What trait do you have?¡±


    He lifted an eyebrow. Then, without a word, he extended his hand. A faint golden glow flickered around him, almost invisible until he focused it into his palm.


    ¡°A-rank Defensive Trait,¡± he said proudly. ¡°Guardian¡¯s Will.¡±


    I felt a pulse of mana ripple from him.


    I could feel it. A quiet, unshakable force.


    ¡°What does it do?¡± I asked.


    Father smirked. ¡°Simple. The stronger my will, the stronger my defense. It enhances my body¡¯s durability and lets me take attacks that would normally kill me.¡±


    I blinked. ¡°Wait¡­ so it¡¯s like a passive shield?¡±


    ¡°Exactly,¡± he confirmed. ¡°The tougher the situation, the stronger it becomes. It¡¯s saved my life more times than I can count.¡±


    I exhaled. An A-rank defensive trait. That was¡­ incredible.


    And yet, here I was¡ªstaring at a grimoire that had just sealed itself.


    I looked back down at my book, a strange unease settling in my chest.


    If traits were ranked from F to SSS¡­


    And if EX traits were locked in power forever¡­


    Then what had my grimoire just hidden from me, or why?

 Chapter 4: A Brother’s Bond & The Foundations of Power.

    Just as the heavy silence settled in, the patter of small feet echoed down the hallway.


    ¡°Akul! Akul! Play with me!¡±


    A tiny force collided into my side, small arms wrapping around my waist as a little bundle of energy latched onto me.


    I looked down to find Lina, my five-year-old sister, grinning up at me with her usual mischievous smile. Her golden-brown hair was slightly messy, her bright amber eyes filled with excitement.


    Before I could react, she lifted her arms up high.


    ¡°Horsey ride!¡± she demanded.


    I sighed, a smirk forming on my lips. ¡°Again? I just awakened my grimoire, and you think now is the time to ride me like a beast?¡±


    ¡°Yes!¡± she said without hesitation, bouncing up and down.


    My mother groaned. ¡°Lina, not now. This is an important moment for your brother.¡±


    Lina pouted dramatically, her tiny hands grabbing at my sleeve. ¡°But he¡¯s always busy! It¡¯s my turn now!¡±


    I chuckled, reaching down to squeeze her chubby cheeks just to mess with her. ¡°So demanding. What am I, your personal mount?¡±


    She huffed, swatting at my hands. ¡°Yes! Now kneel, mighty steed!¡±


    I snorted. ¡°Mighty? More like unfortunate.¡±


    Mother let out an exasperated sigh. ¡°Akul, you don¡¯t have to¡ª¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s fine, Mom.¡± I hoisted Lina up onto my back, adjusting her so she wouldn¡¯t fall. ¡°She¡¯d just keep pestering me anyway.¡±


    Lina threw her hands in the air like a victorious conqueror. ¡°Onward, noble steed!¡±


    I sighed dramatically but smiled. ¡°Yes, Your Highness.¡±


    As I started trotting around the room, her giggles filled the air, pure and unrestrained.


    For a moment, the tension from before faded.


    While I carried Lina around the room, I caught my mother watching me, her expression softer, but still laced with something unspoken.


    Worry.


    I knew what she was thinking.


    The grimoire had sealed my trait, one of the most important aspects of an artifact. To her, it must have felt like I had been robbed of something vital.


    But strangely¡­ I didn¡¯t feel that way.


    I could still feel my trait.


    It wasn¡¯t gone. It wasn¡¯t missing.


    It felt¡­ guarded.


    Like something intentionally waiting for the right moment.


    I didn¡¯t fully understand it, but I knew one thing¡ªI didn¡¯t feel like I had lost anything.


    I wasn¡¯t afraid.


    So, for now, I would let my mother worry for the both of us.


    I¡¯d prove to her that I was fine.


    As I carried Lina through the house, I noticed something strange.


    My grimoire was floating.


    It hovered exactly one foot away from me, perfectly aligned with my movements.


    Even when I spun around with Lina on my back, it followed, drifting through the air like a silent guardian.


    Lina noticed it too. ¡°Ooooh, your book is flying, Akul! Is it magic?¡±


    I glanced at it, then grinned. ¡°Looks like it likes me.¡±


    She poked at it curiously but couldn¡¯t quite reach. ¡°Can it play too?¡±


    I laughed. ¡°I don¡¯t think it knows any games.¡±


    My father, watching from the side, nodded approvingly. ¡°It¡¯s bonded deeply to you already. That¡¯s a good sign.¡±


    Still, as cool as it looked, I didn¡¯t want my grimoire floating around me all the time like some kind of ghost.


    So, I tried something.


    I willed it to return to me¡ªto absorb back into my soul.


    The moment I did, something unexpected happened.


    As soon as the grimoire entered my soul space, I felt it.


    A rush of pure energy.


    It wasn¡¯t overwhelming, nor painful¡ªit was like unlocking a door that had always been there.


    For just a moment, I sensed it.


    My trait.


    It was there. Waiting. Guarded. Unsealed¡­ but only within me.


    A powerful instinct told me that if I reached out, I could see what it was.


    I could know.


    ¡­But I didn¡¯t.Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.


    Not yet.


    If my grimoire had sealed my trait outside but unlocked it inside, there had to be a reason.


    So, I let it be. For now."


    I focused back on Lina, laughing as she tugged my hair like horse reins.


    There would be time to figure everything out later.


    Later that evening, we sat together for dinner, eating in comfortable silence.


    Father had gone to contact his friend about the golden body monkeys, while Mother prepared a simple but warm meal.


    Lina sat beside me, humming happily as she swung her legs under the table. She had already forgotten about her earlier protests, too busy shoving food into her mouth like a little beast.


    Mother glanced at me, eyes searching, as if still trying to understand how I felt.


    I met her gaze and smiled reassuringly.


    She exhaled, then smiled back.


    For now, everything was fine.


    As night fell, the house grew quiet. The lingering warmth of dinner still filled the air, but the earlier laughter had faded into a comfortable stillness.


    I sat cross-legged on my bed, my grimoire resting on my lap. The black pages shimmered faintly under the lantern¡¯s glow, the golden inscriptions shifting slightly, like they were alive.


    My father stood by the door, arms crossed, watching me with an unreadable expression.


    After a long moment, he sighed, stepping inside.


    ¡°I still can¡¯t believe it,¡± he muttered, more to himself than to me.


    I raised an eyebrow. ¡°What?¡±


    He pulled up a chair beside me, his gaze falling on my artifact. ¡°Your grimoire,¡± he said. ¡°It shouldn¡¯t be this¡­complete.¡±


    I looked down at it, running a hand over the smooth, obsidian-like cover. ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    He exhaled, shaking his head. ¡°When I first awakened my artifact, it was barely holding itself together. A fragile, translucent form, constantly flickering between existence and nothingness.¡±


    I turned to him, surprised. ¡°Really?¡±


    He smirked. ¡°I had to spend months¡ªmonths¡ªjust to make it feel solid. And yet here you are, with a grimoire that¡¯s already more stable than mine was after a year.¡±


    I blinked. That¡­ wasn¡¯t normal, was it?


    His fingers traced the edge of my grimoire, eyes narrowing slightly. ¡°You don¡¯t realize it yet, but this is special, Akul. What you¡¯ve created¡ªwhat you¡¯ve summoned¡ªit¡¯s already on a level beyond most first awakenings.¡±


    I swallowed. ¡°So¡­ what does that mean?¡±


    He met my gaze, and for the first time that night, his expression turned serious.


    ¡°It means you¡¯re destined for something greater.¡±


    I didn¡¯t know how to respond to that.


    A part of me wanted to deny it, to say he was exaggerating¡ªbut deep down, I felt it too.


    The sealed trait.


    The way the grimoire reacted to me.


    The way it felt like an extension of my soul.


    Something was different.


    And maybe¡­ just maybe, he was right.


    My father sighed, his expression softening. ¡°I won¡¯t put expectations on you, Akul. Your path is yours to choose. But whatever you decide, I want you to strive for greatness. You have the foundation for it.¡±


    I nodded slowly.


    Then he clapped his hands together, snapping me back out of my own thoughts. "Alright, enough talking. Time for your first cultivation session.''"


    ¡°Listen carefully,¡± my father said, his voice calm yet commanding. ¡°An artifact is not just a tool. It is alive.¡±


    I frowned slightly. ¡°Alive?¡±


    He nodded. ¡°Not in the way beasts are. But an artifact is tied to your soul, your will, your growth. It will evolve with you, strengthen with you¡ªbut only if you cultivate it properly.¡±


    I watched as he lifted his own grimoire. The old book hummed in response, its pages glowing faintly with golden light.


    ¡°The way we cultivate artifacts is through visualization and internalization.¡± He placed a hand on his grimoire¡¯s cover. ¡°By focusing on its existence, strengthening its form with our will, we make it more real, more solid, more powerful.¡±


    I took a deep breath. ¡°And how do I do that?¡±


    ¡°Close your eyes,¡± he instructed.


    I obeyed.


    ¡°Feel the artifact. Don¡¯t just see it¡ªunderstand it. Every fiber, every rune, every connection it shares with your soul.¡±


    I focused.


    At first, there was nothing¡ªonly silence, only darkness.


    But then¡­


    I felt it.


    The weight of the grimoire.


    The energy pulsing beneath its pages.


    The way it seemed to exist within and outside of me at the same time.


    ¡°Now,¡± my father continued, ¡°breathe in. Slowly.¡±


    I inhaled.


    And the moment I did¡ª


    The world responded.


    A faint ripple, like the very air stirring to life. The energy of the world¡ªthe essence of mana itself¡ªbegan to gather.


    My grimoire trembled in my hands.


    ¡°That¡¯s it,¡± my father murmured. ¡°Now¡­ let it absorb.¡±


    I exhaled.


    The energy around us flowed toward the artifact, sinking into it, strengthening it. The pages glowed, the golden runes becoming sharper, more refined.


    I opened my eyes.


    The grimoire felt denser. Heavier.


    More real.


    My father smiled. ¡°Good. That was your first step.¡±


    I glanced down at my artifact, my chest rising and falling. ¡°¡­It felt like it was breathing.¡±


    He chuckled. ¡°In a way, it was.¡±


    ¡°Now that your grimoire has begun absorbing energy, there¡¯s one more thing we need to do,¡± my father said.


    He flipped open his own grimoire, revealing an intricately painted page. A vast forest, with towering trees and endless green.


    ¡°This,¡± he said, ¡°is my beast space.¡±


    I stared. ¡°You¡­ drew it?¡±


    He nodded. ¡°Every summoner must create a space within their artifact to house their contracted beasts. And the best way to do that?¡±


    He tapped the page.


    ¡°The M¨ªr¡¯fael Sutra¡ªThe Thousand Strokes of Soul Painting.¡±


    I blinked. That sounded¡­ insanely cool.


    He smirked at my expression. ¡°Our family has always specialized in grimoire-type artifacts. Unlike others, we don¡¯t just summon¡ªwe paint. We create worlds within our pages.¡±


    I swallowed. ¡°So¡­ I need to paint my own space?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡± His tone was patient. ¡°But it¡¯s more than just painting. You must visualize. Feel the land beneath your feet, the air, the sky. Everything in your beast space must come from your soul.¡±


    I nodded slowly, flipping open my own grimoire.


    The black page shimmered, waiting.


    I closed my eyes again.


    What kind of world did I want to create?


    The first image that came to mind was¡­ a vast plateau.


    Strong, solid land. Open space. A place for growth and strength.


    The moment I visualized it, the golden ink began to move on its own, tracing the outline of a rugged landscape.


    I opened my eyes.


    The first stroke had been made.


    As the night stretched on, we continued to cultivate.


    With each breath, my grimoire grew stronger.


    With each visualization, my beast space took form.


    And as I sat beside my father, watching him guide me through the process, I knew¡ª


    Tomorrow, I would visit the golden body monkeys.


    Tomorrow, I would take my first step as a summoner.


    But tonight¡­


    Tonight, I was building the foundation for everything to come.

 Chapter 5: The Sealed Trait Unveiled

    ¡°Don¡¯t push yourself too hard tonight.¡±


    My father¡¯s words echoed in my mind as I sat on my bed, legs crossed, the grimoire resting in my lap. He had told me to prioritize rest, not overdo it.


    And I had every intention of listening.


    I really did.


    But¡­


    The moment I started cultivating, the world faded away.


    The grimoire wasn¡¯t like what my father had described.


    My father¡¯s voice was steady, his eyes locked onto me as he spoke. The grimoire sat in my lap, cool to the touch, the golden runes shimmering faintly under the dim lantern light.


    ¡°Cultivating your artifact is a slow, deliberate process,¡± he continued. ¡°It requires complete concentration. If your focus wavers, the flow of essence will break, and you¡¯ll have to start over from the beginning.¡±


    I nodded, listening carefully.


    ¡°Absorbing the essence of the world is not something that happens passively,¡± he went on. ¡°You have to visualize the flow of energy, internalize it, and guide it into your artifact. The moment you lose that mental clarity, it stops. That¡¯s why young summoners like you struggle with cultivation in the beginning.¡±


    He leaned back slightly, watching my expression.


    ¡°Children your age find it difficult to hold their focus for long periods. That¡¯s why you need to take it slow. First, cultivate. Gather enough energy. Then, once you¡¯ve built up enough, you can shift your focus to constructing your beast space. But not at the same time.¡±


    I frowned slightly. ¡°Not at the same time?¡±


    He shook his head. ¡°No. You aren¡¯t ready for that. It¡¯s something you¡¯ll learn as you grow. In the early stages, you should focus on one or the other. If you try to split your focus, both processes will suffer.¡±


    I nodded, taking his words to heart.


    Cultivation was supposed to be a fragile process.


    One break in focus, and the flow would stop.


    ¡­Or at least, that¡¯s what he told me.


    I closed my eyes, visualizing the energy of the world. I imagined the essence¡ªa current of invisible mana flowing all around me¡ªand willed it toward my grimoire.


    And the moment I did¡ª


    It just worked.


    It didn¡¯t require constant focus. The moment I activated the technique, it felt like a living engine, constantly pulling in the world¡¯s essence on its own.


    The process was effortless.


    I held my breath.


    This¡­ isn¡¯t normal.


    According to my father, cultivation was supposed to be a battle of willpower. A process where even the smallest distraction could make everything collapse.If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


    But for me?


    Once I started, it didn¡¯t need my constant focus. The flow continued on its own, steady and unbroken. It wasn¡¯t something I had to hold in place¡ªit was like I had merely flipped a switch and the process ran itself.


    And even stranger¡­


    When I decided to shift my focus to visualization, it didn¡¯t disrupt the cultivation.


    The grimoire kept absorbing essence even as I visualized.


    I could do both at the same time.


    Already.


    Was I this gifted? A born genius? Did the heavens love me like this?¡­No. I should calm down.


    Anyway, I decided that, as I cultivated, I would turn my focus to the next step¡ªvisualization.


    Creating my beast space was just as my father described: a process that pulled from my mind, shaping the unseen into reality.


    I felt the cycle.


    Cultivate to gain energy.


    Use energy to form the beast space.


    The grimoire absorbs more essence to sustain the process.


    It was all connected.


    I didn¡¯t even realize how much time had passed.


    One moment, I was focused, my mind painting the rough outline of my beast space.


    The next¡­


    Darkness.


    A blank void.


    Sleep had taken me without warning.


    ...


    I woke up with a sharp inhale.


    The first thing I noticed was the glow.


    My grimoire was still cultivating.


    Its black cover pulsed with golden veins of energy, the pages trembling slightly as mana continuously poured into it.


    I sat up quickly, eyes widening.


    I forgot to stop it?!


    For a brief moment, panic gripped me.


    Artifacts weren¡¯t supposed to cultivate on their own like this. If mana absorption wasn¡¯t controlled properly, it could lead to backlash.


    But¡­ I felt fine.


    In fact, I felt incredible.


    More awake. More clear-headed. My body wasn¡¯t fatigued. My mind wasn¡¯t groggy. Instead, there was a vibrancy running through me, like my very soul had been refined.


    And then I understood.


    The grimoire cultivates itself.


    I wasn¡¯t actively doing anything, yet the energy continued to flow perfectly, efficiently, endlessly.


    I exhaled. I wasn''t a genius; I was just... lucky?


    I need to test this.


    Closing my eyes, I focused my will.


    Stop.


    The glow flickered. The pull of mana halted instantly.


    I stared at it.


    I hadn¡¯t disrupted the cultivation. I had simply¡­ stopped it. Like turning off a switch.


    I willed it to start again.


    The grimoire pulsed once, and the mana absorption resumed seamlessly.


    My hands trembled slightly.


    Artifacts didn¡¯t cultivate autonomously. They didn¡¯t obey simple willpower commands.


    And yet, mine did.


    This wasn¡¯t normal.


    And for the first time, I realized¡­


    I might not be normal either.


    I wasn¡¯t sure if that was a good thing or a dangerous thing.


    Either way, I needed to understand it better.


    I decided to try something else.


    I lifted a hand and willed my grimoire to return to my soul.


    Instantly, it vanished into me.


    And the moment it did¡ª


    That same sensation returned.


    Like something had been sealed away.


    I furrowed my brows. I wasn¡¯t imagining it. It wasn¡¯t just a vague feeling. Every time my grimoire left my body, my trait disappeared with it.


    And every time I summoned it back, something released.


    To make sure, I tested it again.


    Out.


    The seal returned.


    In.


    The trait was released.


    Out.


    Sealed.


    In.


    Released.


    I did this a few more times, making sure I wasn¡¯t hallucinating.


    I wasn¡¯t.


    This was real.


    It wasn¡¯t just a sensation¡ªit was a mechanic, something directly tied to my artifact.


    ¡°¡­What does this mean?¡±


    I didn¡¯t have an answer.


    But I did have a theory.


    If my trait was locking itself when my grimoire was outside¡­ maybe I could read it while it was inside.


    I took a deep breath and focused.


    Find it.


    I reached inward, searching for the grimoire within me.


    The moment my mind touched it, a new awareness surged through me.


    I could feel it. The artifact wasn¡¯t just inside me¡ªit was part of me.


    And if I could summon it outside, then¡­


    Could I open it inside?


    I willed the grimoire to unfold.


    And it obeyed.


    The same way I would flip its pages in the real world, I did so within my soul space.


    And just like that¡ªI could read it.


    The golden text shimmered against the void-like background of my soul.


    It was just as vivid, just as clear.


    I could see everything.


    Including the page that had once been locked.


    The trait page.


    My breath slowed.


    I hesitated, but only for a moment.


    Then, with steady hands, I turned to it.


    This time¡­


    There was no seal.


    There was no resistance.


    The words formed instantly.


    And as I read them, my heart stopped.


    ©¥©¥©¥ ¡ó ©¥©¥©¥


    Trait: ¨€¨€¨€¨€¨€¨€¨€¨€¨€¨€


    Grade: ¨€¨€¨€¨€¨€¨€¨€¨€¨€¨€


    Type: ¨€¨€¨€¨€¨€¨€¨€¨€¨€¨€


    ©¥©¥©¥ ¡ó ©¥©¥©¥


    The golden text flickered.


    And then¡ª


    For the first time¡ª


    I saw it.


    And everything I thought I knew about my awakening changed forever.

 Chapter 6: The Unknown Authority

    The words formed instantly¡ª burning themselves into the page.


    ©¥©¥©¥ ¡ó ©¥©¥©¥


    Trait: Primordial Hormonal Authority.


    Affinity: Null.


    Grade: Unique EX.


    Rank: Unknown.


    ©¥©¥©¥ ¡ó ©¥©¥©¥


    I stared at the words.


    And then I stared some more.


    What¡­?


    I expected something like Physical Mastery, Strength Affinity, or at the very least something related to my grimoire.


    But this¡­?


    Null Affinity?


    What did that even mean?


    My father said that every summoner has an affinity. It was the foundation for forming contracts.


    Fire summoners contracted fire beasts.


    Draconic summoners bonded with dragon-types.


    Strength summoners specialized in physical creatures.


    But I¡­ had no affinity at all?


    I frowned, gripping the grimoire tighter.


    Then how am I suppose cultivate a summon beast?


    My eyes drifted back to the trait¡¯s name.


    "Primordial Hormonal Authority."


    It sounded powerful. Grand.


    But also¡­ completely unfamiliar.


    I knew what authority meant. But primordial? Hormonal?


    I had never heard those words before.


    It didn¡¯t sound like anything related to summoning. It wasn¡¯t about commanding, strengthening, or enhancing beasts.


    ¡­Right?


    I needed answers.


    I turned the page.


    ©¥©¥©¥ ¡ó ©¥©¥©¥


    Trait Division: Six Branches


    ©¥©¥©¥ ¡ó ©¥©¥©¥Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website.


    More golden text formed, neatly listing six separate sections beneath the trait.


    1. Development Branch ¨C (Growth & Evolution)


    2. Recovery Branch ¨C (Healing & Regeneration)


    3. Bonding Branch ¨C (Loyalty & State of Mind)


    4. Battle Branch ¨C (Combat & Endurance)


    5. Control Branch ¨C (Taming & Influence)


    6. Learning Branch ¨C (Skill Development & Intelligence)


    I exhaled.


    This was far more complex than I expected.


    Most summoners had one or two skills linked to their trait. But I had¡­ six entire branches?


    Each one looked like an entire specialization by itself.


    I was about to flip to the next page, eager to read more, when¡ª


    Knock. Knock. Knock.


    I flinched, my fingers tightening around the grimoire.


    "Akul? It¡¯s me, your mother."


    Her voice was gentle but firm, cutting through the early morning silence. "Your father is downstairs. His friend just arrived¡­ and he brought the golden body monkey."


    I hesitated.


    My heart was still racing from what I had just read. The words Primordial Hormonal Authority echoed in my mind, heavy and unexplained. My fingers twitched, wanting¡ªneeding¡ªto turn the page and keep reading.


    But I couldn''t. Not now.


    I took a slow breath, closing the grimoire and sinking it back into my soul. The moment I withdrew, reality snapped into focus again.


    I exhaled, running a hand through my hair.


    "I''m coming," I called back.


    I stepped toward the door, pushing it open.


    The moment my mother saw me, her expression shifted.


    Her eyes flicked over my face, searching, her brows furrowing just slightly.


    "You look¡­ lost in thought," she murmured.


    I swallowed. Could she tell?


    I tried to brush it off, forcing a small smile. "Just¡­ a lot to think about."


    She didn¡¯t say anything right away. Instead, she reached out, gently adjusting my tunic like she always did when she thought I looked a little messy.


    ¡°That¡¯s natural,¡± she said after a pause. ¡°You just awakened yesterday. Everything must still feel¡­ overwhelming.¡±


    I nodded. That wasn¡¯t exactly why I was distracted, but it was close enough.


    As we walked down the hall, she glanced at me again.


    ¡°Did you find out something important?¡±


    I hesitated.


    Part of me wanted to tell her everything¡ªabout my trait, about my lack of affinity, about how nothing made sense.


    But another part of me¡­ wasn¡¯t ready.


    Not yet.


    I shook my head. ¡°I don¡¯t know yet. I¡¯ll need to look into it more.¡±


    She studied me for a moment, then nodded. "Well, you have time. No need to rush understanding everything all at once."


    We reached the staircase, the voices from downstairs growing clearer. My father was speaking with someone¡ªhis tone relaxed, carrying the weight of an old friendship.


    ¡°Before the bonding process starts, it¡¯s important for them to spend time together.¡±


    I slowed my steps.


    ¡°Since Akul has only just awakened, his beast space won¡¯t be habitable yet,¡± the man continued. ¡°It usually takes a month at the minimum before it stabilizes.¡±


    A pause. Then my father¡¯s voice. ¡°So, you brought the beast early for them to get to know each other?¡±


    ¡°Exactly.¡±


    I reached the bottom of the stairs, stepping into the main room.


    A man stood beside my father, dressed in well-worn traveler¡¯s clothes, his arms crossed. He had a sturdy build, with short, graying hair and sharp, observant eyes. In his left hand, he held a small wooden crate, the lid slightly open.


    And inside¡­


    A tiny golden-furred creature peeked out.


    I stopped mid-step.


    The golden body monkey was even smaller than I expected.


    It was no bigger than my palm, its fur soft and sleek, shimmering slightly under the lantern light. Its large, round eyes blinked up at me, filled with curiosity. Its tiny hands clutched the edge of the crate, gripping it tightly as it observed the room.


    It was adorable.


    ¡°He¡¯s young,¡± my father¡¯s friend said, glancing at me. ¡°Not a newborn, but still in his early stages. He can eat on his own, but he¡¯s at the age where he craves companionship.¡±


    I stepped forward slowly, my gaze locked onto the monkey.


    The little creature tilted its head, ears twitching slightly, its nose wrinkling as if trying to sniff the air.


    "Perfect timing for bonding," my father mused.


    His friend nodded. "At this stage, he''s naturally inclined to seek comfort and attachment. If Akul spends enough time with him before the official contract, their bond will be stronger.¡±


    My mother smiled softly, watching the scene unfold. "That sounds ideal."


    The man turned back to me. "Do you want to hold him?"


    I hesitated¡ªbut only for a second.


    Then, slowly, I reached out my hand.


    The tiny monkey watched me carefully. Its fingers twitched, its tail shifting inside the crate.


    For a brief moment, a thought gripped me¡ª what would happen when I touched it? Would my trait... react?


    Would I feel something different?


    The thought sent a shiver of anticipation down my spine.


    And then, before I could overthink it, the golden body monkey jumped onto my hand¡ªits tiny fingers gripping my skin, warm and impossibly light.

 Chapter 7: The Divine Eyes & The First Bond

    The moment the monkey¡¯s tiny hand touched my palm¡ª


    Everything changed.


    A wave of sensation crashed over me, like a current of light bursting into my mind. My vision blurred, then sharpened beyond clarity.


    And then I saw.


    Not just the monkey¡¯s body.


    I saw everything.


    The hormonal balance flowing through its veins. Its adrenaline levels, its energy, its heartbeat. The subtle shifts in dopamine, oxytocin, cortisol.


    I could see its emotions in real time¡ªcuriosity, hesitation, the faintest flicker of attachment.


    I could see its growth patterns, its genetic potential, its biological strengths and weaknesses¡ªlike my mind had instantly mapped out its entire existence.


    And for the first time in my life, I felt something deeply unnatural.


    Something that shouldn¡¯t be possible.


    Because I didn¡¯t just see these things.


    I could change them.


    A sharp gasp tore through the room.


    Something shifted in my vision¡ªa burning sensation surged behind my eyes.


    I blinked.


    And suddenly, the world wasn¡¯t the same.


    Gasps filled the air. A clattering sound¡ªwood striking stone.


    My father¡¯s friend had dropped the crate.


    I barely noticed.


    Because in the reflection of the polished wood table nearby¡­


    I saw my own eyes.


    And they were no longer mine.


    My irises had become a shattered, fractured crystal of light¡ªkaleidoscopic colors shifting with every breath. The once-round pupils had reshaped into a radiant geometric form, a cross or a diamond¡ªglowing with flecks of iridescent blue.


    The outer edges of my iris glowed in a frosty white-blue, while the inner part shimmered in a prismatic burst of neon hues.


    I barely had time to react before my father¡¯s friend whispered¡ª


    ¡°Divine eyes¡­¡±


    His voice trembled.


    And then, before I could even ask what that meant¡ª


    A brilliant light burst from beneath my hands.


    Golden rays slipped through the cracks in my fingers, illuminating the monkey in a radiant glow.


    The little creature let out a soft chirp, confused but not afraid.This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.


    At the same time, knowledge flooded my mind.


    Instinctive, ancient knowledge.


    The golden body monkey¡¯s biology. Its species history. Its natural instincts. Its potential evolutions.


    I knew it. All of it.


    I could see every possible skill it could learn¡ªpaths it hadn¡¯t even walked yet, techniques it hadn¡¯t even developed.


    And then¡ª


    A strange, unseen thread pulled tight between us¡ªbinding, linking, locking inside of us.


    Something inside me clicked into place, inside my soul.


    A contract was forming.


    But there was no chant. No incantation. No ceremonial process.


    Nothing.


    It was just¡­ happening.


    Normally, every beast species had its own unique contract ritual. A fire beast required a chant of ignition. A dragon required a vow of submission.


    The stronger the bond, the more complex the ritual.


    Yet here I was¡ªforming a contract without speaking a single word.


    No summoner did this.


    No one.


    I knew that.


    And yet¡­


    The contract wasn¡¯t just forming.


    It was perfect.


    The golden body monkey chirped again¡ªthis time, different. A sound of recognition. Of loyalty. Of something deeper than instinct.


    Of acknowledgment.


    The light surged.


    The final seal locked into place.


    And just as I felt the connection deepen into something unbreakable¡ª


    CRASH.


    A loud clatter rang out from across the room.


    The spell of the moment shattered instantly.


    All heads snapped toward the sound.


    There, in the middle of the mess, was Lina.


    Flat on her back, covered in food, spilled soup, and broken ceramic.


    Tears welled up in her big amber eyes. Her lower lip trembled, her hands clutching at the ruined meal around her.


    For a moment, nobody moved.


    Then¡ª


    A deep inhale.


    A pause.


    And then¡ª


    WAAAAHHHHH!


    A full, high-pitched scream of distress.


    Lina had fallen while trying to climb onto the table, most likely in an attempt to steal food before breakfast was actually served.


    And now?


    She was a tragic, crying mess.


    The tension in the room evaporated instantly.


    I exhaled, shoulders dropping.


    Slowly, I walked toward her, the tiny monkey still clinging to my hand.


    I knelt beside her, sighing. ¡°Lina¡­¡±


    She hiccupped through her sniffles, pouting dramatically.


    ¡°You were trying to steal food again, weren¡¯t you?¡±


    She looked at me. Looked at the spilled plate. Looked back at me.


    ¡°¡­No.¡±


    I raised an eyebrow.


    A pause.


    Then she sniffled, wiping at her nose. ¡°¡­Maybe.¡±


    I let out a breath of laughter.


    Then, carefully, I held up my hand, showing her the tiny golden-furred creature gripping onto my fingers.


    ¡°Lina,¡± I said, grinning slightly. ¡°Meet my new partner.¡±


    She stopped crying instantly.


    Her eyes widened. Her mouth fell open.


    ¡°A MONKEY?¡±


    The monkey let out a tiny chirp.


    Lina was still staring wide-eyed at the tiny golden-furred monkey, her earlier distress completely forgotten.


    But before she could reach out to grab him¡ª


    ¡°Lina.¡±


    Mother¡¯s stern voice cut through the moment like a knife.


    Lina froze.


    She turned her head slowly, her big amber eyes meeting Mother¡¯s unimpressed stare.


    ¡°What have I told you about climbing on the furniture?¡±


    Lina squirmed. ¡°¡­Not to.¡±


    ¡°And what have I told you about trying to steal food before it¡¯s ready?¡±


    ¡°¡­Not to.¡±


    Mother folded her arms. ¡°And what did you just do?¡±


    A pause. Then¡ª


    Lina pointed at me.


    ¡°Akul has a new monkey mommy! That¡¯s more important than me stealing food, right?¡±


    Mother¡¯s eyebrow twitched.


    Then she exhaled sharply, rubbing her temples. ¡°That doesn¡¯t mean you can break the rules, Lina.¡±


    Lina puffed her cheeks out in defiance, but she knew there was no escaping this.


    Mother was already grabbing a towel to clean her up.


    As she worked, she glanced at me.


    And for the first time since all of this happened, I saw something strange in her eyes.


    Not just concern.


    Fear.


    Before I could process it, a voice called out.


    ¡°Akul.¡±


    I turned.


    My father¡¯s friend was looking straight at me, his eyes serious.


    My father clapped a hand on my shoulder. Not a "good job" kind of hug. "A we need to talk right now¡¯ kind of hug".


    ¡°Buddy, come here.¡±


    I barely had time to react before he gently but firmly guided me away from the main room.


    I glanced back at my mother, but she was still focused on Lina, wiping soup out of her hair.


    The last thing I saw before we turned the corner was the tiny monkey, still clinging to my sleeve.


    They led me to a separate room, shutting the door behind them.


    I expected to be included in the discussion.


    I wasn¡¯t.


    I strained to listen¡ªbut I couldn¡¯t make out the words.


    It was frustrating.


    I had just awakened something completely unknown, my eyes had transformed, and I had bonded with a beast without a ritual. I wanted answers.


    But instead, I was just standing there, left out of the conversation about my own abilities.


    My fingers tightened into a fist.


    A soft hand rested on my shoulder.


    I turned.


    Mother had entered the room quietly, her expression unreadable.


    She didn¡¯t speak right away.


    Then, finally, she sighed. ¡°Son¡­¡±


    I didn¡¯t like how she said that.


    ¡°¡­I¡¯ve worked in a healing and beast-breeding center for years,¡± she continued. ¡°I¡¯ve seen all kinds of summoners. All kinds of beasts. But I¡¯ve never seen anything like what happened today... not even there...¡±


    Her voice was calm, but I could hear the undercurrent of unease.


    ¡°This isn¡¯t just rare, Akul.¡± She hesitated. ¡°This is¡­ something else.¡±


    I frowned. ¡°Something else?¡±


    She nodded slowly.


    ¡°Mom,¡± I said, forcing a small smile. ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡±


    She didn¡¯t look convinced.


    I exhaled. ¡°I don¡¯t feel weird, I don¡¯t feel sick, and I don¡¯t feel like something¡¯s wrong. If anything¡­¡±


    I glanced down at my tiny golden-furred companion, still clinging to my sleeve.


    ¡°¡­I actually feel really good.¡±


    Her lips pressed together, but the tension in her shoulders eased slightly.


    I turned back to the monkey.


    More than anything right now, I wanted to experiment.


    I wanted to test what I could do¡ªto see if my vision-based ability was something I could control.


    I wanted to learn more about my trait, my contract, my abilities.


    But at that moment¡ª


    A small voice demanded my attention.


    ¡°Akul.¡±


    I turned.


    Lina was standing nearby, her hair still damp from the soup incident.


    She stared at my monkey.


    Then she poked my sleeve.


    ¡°Can I touch it?¡±


    I blinked.


    Then I laughed.


    I held out my hand, letting the tiny monkey crawl onto my palm.


    Lina¡¯s eyes lit up.


    And just like that, the tension of the moment faded.


    For now¡­


    Everything would be fine.

 Chapter 8: The Six Pillars of Authority.

    Sitting there, waiting, was unbearable.


    My father and his friend were still whispering in hushed voices, their conversation just out of reach. I hated being left out of something so obviously important.


    My fingers tapped against my knee, frustration simmering beneath my skin.


    I needed to distract myself.


    I glanced at my mother. "Mom, do you mind if I take a moment to cultivate?"


    Her brows lifted slightly, but she nodded. "Of course, sweetheart."


    She glanced at Lina, who was still eyeing my monkey like she wanted to steal him for herself. "Come on, Lina. Let your brother focus."


    Lina groaned. "Can I see his eyes glow again before i go¡ª"


    Mother gave her a look.


    Lina pouted dramatically but followed her out of the room, dragging her feet.


    Finally, silence.


    I exhaled, shutting my eyes and drawing my consciousness toward my grimoire as I focused inward.


    The moment I connected with my artifact, the golden pages shifted in my mind, responding instantly.


    A new section had appeared since my awakening.


    ©¥©¥©¥ ¡ó ©¥©¥©¥


    Trait: Primordial Hormonal Authority


    Type: Unique EX


    Rank: Unknown


    Affinity: Null


    ©¥©¥©¥ ¡ó ©¥©¥©¥


    Below it, six separate categories illuminated across the dark, endless pages.


    A golden shimmer rolled through the darkness of my mind, like ink spreading across water.


    Then¡ªsix distinct patterns unfolded before me.


    I felt like I wasn¡¯t just reading them.


    I was experiencing them.


    It felt like not just words, But feelings. Concepts. Pathways.


    Each one different, but connected.


    ---


    I reach out to the first one as my mind touch it , I felt movement, expansion¡ªthe sensation of something small turning into something greater.


    A flicker of warmth, of steady strength flowing through veins.


    Growth¡­ No. Not just growth. Refinement.


    Like a sculptor shaping stone, revealing something perfect beneath.


    1. Development Branch (Growth & Evolution)


    This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.


    Skill: Adaptive Growth Factor


    Enhances natural growth rate, ensuring healthy, controlled development by stimulating internal growth hormones.


    Eliminates genetic weaknesses, defects, and imbalances.


    Strengthens physical structure, bones, and muscles.


    Speeds up evolution and natural enhancements.


    I inhaled sharply.


    This meant I could enhance any beast¡¯s natural growth. Not just level them up¡ªbut perfect them.


    As I moved my focus to the next one, I felt a sharp sting of pain¡ªthen relief.


    Torn flesh weaving itself back together. A sluggish body rekindling energy.


    Not magic.


    No instant miracles.


    But a force of nature, something deeply ingrained in the body itself¡ªnudging it to do what it was always meant to do.


    2. Recovery Branch (Healing & Regeneration)


    Skill: Vital Surge


    Temporarily accelerates cell regeneration and stamina recovery by activating healing hormones.


    Boosts immune function and recovery speed.


    Reduces fatigue, restores vitality.


    This¡­ was practical.


    It wasn¡¯t an instant heal, but it maximized natural recovery, making any injuries heal at a speed far beyond normal.


    Next, I felt a connection.


    A pulse of something warm.


    Not my own.


    The sense of another mind, another presence. The weight of their emotions pressing against mine¡ªraw, unfiltered.


    Not just understanding.


    Something deeper.


    Something unshakable.


    3. Bonding & Emotional Control Branch (Loyalty & State of Mind)


    Skill: Harmonic Link


    Establishes a stronger emotional connection between me and my beasts, using key hormonal influences.


    Increases trust, attachment, and obedience.


    Can soothe fear, agitation, or aggression.


    Improves training success and cooperation.


    I clenched my fist.


    This wasn¡¯t just about control.


    It meant I could form a genuine, deep bond with my creatures on an instinctual level.


    The next one felt like a rush of movement, an electric pulse beneath the skin. Muscles coiling, reaction speeds tripling¡ªa body at its absolute peak, honed for battle.


    A predator, fully aware of its own power.


    4. Battle Branch (Combat & Endurance)


    Skill: Adrenaline Flow


    Triggers an immediate combat enhancement state by stimulating adrenaline and stress adaptation hormones.


    Doubles reaction time and agility.


    Heightens senses and physical performance.


    Sharpens instincts in dangerous situations.


    I could make my beasts temporarily stronger, faster, and more reactive in battle.


    This alone could turn fights in an instant.


    The next one felt¡­ overbearing.


    A silent pressure.


    A weight that demanded obedience, that compelled others to listen.


    Not through fear.


    Not through domination.


    But through presence. Through instinct.


    Through the knowledge that following was simply¡­ right.


    5. Control Branch (Taming & External Influence)


    Skill: Alpha Pheromones


    Releases a controlling pheromone signal, increasing command efficiency.


    Reinforces obedience.


    Allows calmer, smoother command execution.


    Boosts pack mentality & synchronized combat.


    This was something dangerous.


    I wasn¡¯t just bonding¡ªI was creating an instinctive need to follow me.


    Then it came to me like a whisper, a flood. Scattered instincts weaving into understanding. A beast moving, reacting¡ªnot just on instinct, but with intelligence. Not just intelligence, but something deeper. Something higher. Natural, yet cognitive.


    Not learned.


    Absorbed.


    An understanding that transcended experience, skipping straight to mastery.


    6. Learning Branch (Skill Development & Intelligence)


    Skill: Neural Acceleration


    Stimulates brain growth factors, improving learning speed and memory retention.


    Speeds up skill acquisition.


    Boosts battle intelligence & adaptability.


    Enhances training efficiency drastically.


    This meant my beasts wouldn¡¯t just grow stronger.


    They would grow smarter.


    I opened my eyes, breath catching.


    The moment I did, the golden shimmer faded, retreating back into the grimoire like a tide pulling away from shore.


    I swallowed hard.


    I¡­ understood now.


    It wasn¡¯t just a set of abilities.


    It was fundamental control¡ªnot over magic, not over elements, but over something even deeper.


    Something alive.


    I sat there, absorbing everything.


    This wasn¡¯t just summoning.


    This wasn¡¯t just bonding.


    This was complete biological mastery.


    If I could control this, I wouldn¡¯t just be a summoner.


    What, I didn¡¯t know yet¡­ but maybe my future was simply beyond my reach for now.


    But I knew that if I could master this power¡­ maybe I could achieve something greater, just like my father said.


    And the key to controlling it¡­


    Was in my eyes.


    ---


    Eyes of Origin (Innate Ability)


    I turned my focus inward, searching.


    I had no memory of unlocking them.


    But my body knew.


    It was an innate ability¡ªsomething that had always been within me, waiting to awaken. And there, woven into me like the roots of a tree, I saw it.


    ©¥©¥©¥ ¡ó ©¥©¥©¥


    Innate Ability: Eyes of Origin


    Type: Divine Biometric Vision


    ©¥©¥©¥ ¡ó ©¥©¥©¥


    The text shimmered, shifting into clearer descriptions.


    Effects:


    Full biological analysis of any beast upon contact.


    Real-time hormone tracking & health monitoring.


    Complete awareness of a beast¡¯s physical state.


    Ability to see and manipulate hormone influence in living creatures.


    I inhaled sharply.


    I still didn¡¯t fully understand hormones, but this wasn¡¯t just sight.


    It was awareness.


    Of life itself. That i understood.


    This was why my father¡¯s friend called them Divine Eyes.


    But they weren¡¯t.


    Well¡­ in a sense, they were. But I feel like they are¡­


    Something older.


    Something unnamed in this world.


    I clenched my fists.


    This ability couldn¡¯t be hidden. The moment anyone saw my eyes activate, they would know something was different.


    Which meant¡­


    I was going to have to play this carefully.


    I exhaled slowly, opening my eyes.


    The room was silent.


    The voices of my father and his friend had faded.


    And now¡­


    I was more ready than ever to start experimenting.


    I barely had time to process that before¡ª creeeak. The door opened.


    My eyes snapped up.


    The conversation in the next room had ended.


    And my father¡¯s voice called out¡ª


    ¡°Akul. Come here.¡±


    I swallowed down the millions of thoughts racing through me.


    I wasn¡¯t ready to explain this yet.


    So instead, I stood up.


    And walked into the unknown.

 Chapter 9: Father’s Truth

    The room was quiet.


    The kind of quiet that wasn¡¯t peaceful¡ªbut heavy, expectant.


    My father stood there, arms crossed, his expression unreadable. His friend lingered near the door, watching with something close to caution.


    Then my father exhaled and stepped forward.


    ¡°Akul,¡± he said, voice steady, serious. ¡°I know you just awakened. I know everything is happening fast¡ªone thing after another, with barely any time to breathe.¡±


    His gaze softened.


    ¡°And I know¡­ it¡¯s a lot to take in.¡±


    I swallowed.


    ¡°But son.¡± He took another step forward, resting a firm hand on my shoulder. ¡°I have to tell you the truth.¡±


    Something in his tone made my heart tighten.


    This wasn¡¯t just about my eyes.


    This was about something bigger.


    I held my breath. Listening.


    ¡°I wasn¡¯t always a simple summoner,¡± my father continued. ¡°I came from a very powerful family. A family that stood above most.¡±


    My fingers curled slightly. A powerful family¡­?


    He sighed, running a hand through his hair. ¡°Before I settled here, before I chose this life, I was someone else. I was trained, raised, and prepared to inherit power beyond your imagination. I was part of a world you¡¯ve never seen. A world of elites, sects, and towering forces.¡±


    His grip tightened on my shoulder.


    ¡°But I lost it all.¡±


    I tensed.


    ¡°Why?¡± I asked, my voice lower than I expected.


    His lips pressed into a thin line. Then¡ª


    "¡®Because I chose love." He exhaled, slow and steady.


    He let out a slow breath.


    ¡°I was given a choice,¡± he said. ¡°Stay in the family, keep my power, live a life of wealth and prestige¡­ or leave.¡±


    He paused.


    ¡°I left.¡±


    I barely breathed.


    ¡°I chose your mother, Akul.¡± His voice was steady, unwavering. ¡°I gave up my inheritance, my position, and my future because I loved her more than anything. And for that¡­¡±


    His jaw tightened.


    ¡°I was exiled. My powers¡ªsealed and taken from me.¡±


    A strange chill ran down my spine.


    I had never thought of my father as someone who had lost everything.


    To me, he had always been strong.


    But now, I was seeing him in a different light.


    ¡°I came from a place called the Heavenly Tower.¡±


    The name carried weight.


    ¡°It¡¯s not just a city, Akul. It¡¯s a land of opportunities, of boundless resources, of power. A place governed by ancient families, sects, and organizations that control the highest levels of summoning and combat.¡±Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.


    His eyes darkened slightly.


    ¡°Our family¡­ we were one of them. One of the strongest.¡±


    I barely registered my own breath.


    This wasn¡¯t just about our past.


    It was about our future.


    His voice lowered.


    ¡°When I saw your eyes,¡± he said slowly, ¡°I recognized them.¡±


    I stiffened.


    He turned to his friend. ¡°And so did you.¡±


    The man nodded, still looking slightly shaken.


    ¡°Why?¡± I asked, my own voice not quite steady.


    My father hesitated.


    Then, finally¡ª


    ¡°Because they look exactly like the eyes of our founding father.¡±


    My mind blanked.


    ¡°What¡­?¡±


    ¡°The man who created our bloodline, our legacy¡ªthe very first patriarch of our family.¡± My father¡¯s voice was firm. ¡°He was said to have eyes just like yours.¡±


    I swallowed.


    ¡°But he¡¯s been gone for thousands of years,¡± my father continued. ¡°No one living today has seen him. But his image remains. The illustrations. The records. The descriptions.¡±


    His eyes locked onto mine.


    ¡°And Akul,¡± he said slowly, ¡°you match them exactly.¡±


    My hands clenched against my knees.


    A founding father¡¯s eyes? A legend¡¯s inheritance?


    This wasn¡¯t just about where I came from.


    This was about what I could become.


    My father inhaled deeply.


    ¡°I won¡¯t lie to you,¡± he said. ¡°If you stay here, you¡¯ll have a comfortable life. You¡¯ll grow, learn, and become strong in your own way.¡±


    ¡°But if you go back¡­ if you step into that world¡­¡±


    He studied me carefully.


    ¡°Your prospects will be limitless.¡±


    The weight of his words settled over me.


    But then, he added something else.


    ¡°It won¡¯t be easy,¡± he said. ¡°Politics, battles, danger¡ªyou¡¯ll be thrown into a world where people will either want to use you¡­ or destroy you.¡±


    I swallowed.


    ¡°But, son¡­¡± He took a deep breath. ¡°You deserve the chance to see that world for yourself.¡±


    A pause.


    Then he glanced at his friend.


    ¡°If we go, we go together,¡± he continued. ¡°But¡­ we need to talk to your mother and your sister. If they don¡¯t want to leave, then¡­¡±


    His voice softened.


    ¡°I won¡¯t abandon them. I love you, Akul, but I love your mother even more. If she chooses to stay, I¡¯ll stay with her.¡±


    I stiffened.


    ¡°But,¡± he added firmly, ¡°we won¡¯t hold you back.¡±


    He gestured to his friend.


    ¡°I¡¯ve already arranged something. If your mother refuses to leave, my friend here will guide you. He¡¯ll take you to the Heavenly Tower, introduce you to the right people.¡±


    My chest tightened.


    This was real.


    This was happening.


    I had a choice to make.


    ¡°Son,¡± my father said, voice quiet but firm.


    ¡°There¡¯s a bigger world out there.¡±


    His eyes met mine.


    ¡°A world that is yours for the taking.¡±


    The silence stretched between us.


    And in that moment, I realized¡ª


    This was the moment that would define my future.


    I took a slow, steady breath.


    And I finally spoke.


    ¡°¡­I need time to think.¡±


    The silence after my father¡¯s words stretched long and heavy.


    I could feel it settling into my bones, an unspoken truth too big to ignore.


    Leaving wasn¡¯t something that had to happen now.


    But one day¡ªone way or another¡ªit would.


    ¡°This doesn¡¯t mean you need to leave tomorrow, Akul.¡±


    My father¡¯s voice was calm, steady¡ªbut his eyes held something deeper.


    Something certain.


    ¡°But it does mean we need to talk about it now.¡±


    I swallowed, the weight of his words pressing against me.


    ¡°It¡¯s better to prepare, better to plan ahead. If we wait too long, if we ignore this¡ªone day, it won¡¯t be our choice anymore.¡±


    He let that sit for a moment.


    ¡°Power like yours¡­ it won¡¯t stay hidden forever.¡±


    My fists clenched.


    ¡°So what, Father?¡± My voice was quiet, but sharp. ¡°Am I just supposed to accept it? That no matter what I want, I¡¯ll have to leave eventually?¡±


    His gaze didn¡¯t waver.


    ¡°I¡¯m saying,¡± he said evenly, ¡°that you should have the luxury of choice. If we don¡¯t plan ahead, you won¡¯t have that.¡±


    I didn¡¯t respond right away.


    Because my mind was already moving somewhere else.


    Somewhere darker.


    ¡°¡­What happened to you, Father?¡±


    My father¡¯s expression shifted, just slightly.


    I saw it in his eyes first. A flicker of something old. Something buried.


    Then, slowly, he sighed.


    And unbuttoned his tunic.


    The moment he turned around, I froze.


    His back was covered in a twisting, spiraling mark¡ªa massive curse seal, burned into his skin like scorching iron. The edges of the sigil still pulsed faintly, darkly, as if it was alive, breathing.


    But that wasn¡¯t the worst part.


    The worst part was that I could feel it.


    Even without touching it, even without my eyes activated¡ªI could feel the restriction in his body.


    A binding. A weight. A shackle.


    A curse.


    My stomach twisted violently.


    I had never seen it before.


    I had never even known.


    My father turned slightly, watching my face.


    ¡°They didn¡¯t just exile me, Akul.¡± His voice was calm¡ªtoo calm.


    ¡°They sealed my cultivation.¡±


    I swallowed. ¡°But why?¡±


    ¡°To protect their integrity.¡± His lips twitched, but there was no humor in it. ¡°They feared I would rise against them.¡±


    I stared at him, barely breathing.


    ¡°But that wasn¡¯t all they did.¡±


    He hesitated, just slightly.


    Then¡ª


    ¡°They took my beasts.¡±


    I felt something snap inside me.


    ¡°They¡ªwhat?¡±


    He nodded slowly.


    ¡°They didn¡¯t kill them. No. That would have been merciful.¡±


    My chest was tight. Too tight.


    ¡°They locked them away. Somewhere I can¡¯t reach, somewhere I¡¯ll never find.¡± He exhaled through his nose. ¡°And because they¡¯re still alive¡­ my contracts remain. Their presence still occupies my summoning slots.¡±


    I gritted my teeth.


    His words sank deep into me, a feeling of rage, of disgust, of disbelief.


    ¡°They took everything from you,¡± I whispered.


    My father turned, looking me directly in the eye.


    ¡°No,¡± he said. ¡°I chose to leave.¡±


    I didn¡¯t believe him.


    I couldn¡¯t.


    My vision blurred. My hands curled into fists so tight my nails bit into my palm.


    ¡°How¡­ how do you want me to go to a family that did this to you?¡± My voice shook. ¡°How am I supposed to walk into that place and call them my people?¡±


    My father sighed.


    ¡°Akul.¡±


    ¡°No,¡± I cut him off. ¡°It¡¯s impossible. Impossible for me to go back to a family that did something like this to you.¡±


    I was breathing heavily now. My chest burned.


    ¡°I will never serve them.¡±


    A moment of silence.


    Then my father spoke, his voice quieter than before.


    ¡°If you go to the Heavenly Tower¡­ and you don¡¯t join the family¡­¡±


    His next words made the air freeze.


    ¡°They will try to kill you.¡±


    I stiffened.


    ¡°What?¡±


    He sighed.


    ¡°You bear the inheritance of the founding father. Do you think they will allow someone with your potential to roam free?¡±


    I didn¡¯t respond.


    ¡°They will see you as a threat.¡±


    My father¡¯s gaze was heavy.


    ¡°And that will be extremely problematic for your future.¡±


    I swallowed.


    ¡°That¡¯s why,¡± he continued, ¡°I recommend you join them.¡±


    I shook my head immediately.


    ¡°Never.¡±


    His lips pressed together.


    ¡°Akul¡ª¡±


    ¡°I refuse,¡± I said, fire burning in my chest. ¡°I will never bow to them. Never.¡±


    No one in the room said a word for a long time...


    Then my father sighed, rubbing his temple.


    ¡°Of course you wouldn¡¯t,¡± he muttered.


    I glared. ¡°You expected me to say yes?¡±


    ¡°No,¡± he admitted, ¡°but I hoped you¡¯d at least consider the bigger picture.¡±


    I exhaled sharply.


    Nothing in me wanted to accept this.


    But I also knew¡ª


    This wasn¡¯t just a decision about pride.


    It was a decision about survival.


    And one way or another¡­


    I would have to face it.

 Chapter 10: A Fathers Burden, A Son’s Defiance

    The air in the room was heavy.


    The revelation of my father¡¯s past, his exile, his stolen power¡ªit all sat in my chest like a boulder, refusing to move.


    But something inside me rebelled against it.


    I clenched my fists.


    ¡°This¡­ this doesn¡¯t have to be permanent,¡± I said, my voice firm despite the storm in my chest. ¡°There has to be a way to break your seal, to free your beasts. Maybe we can¡ª¡±


    ¡°No.¡±


    My father cut me off instantly.


    His voice wasn¡¯t harsh.


    It wasn¡¯t angry.


    But it was absolute.


    ¡°There is no hope, Akul.¡±


    I stiffened.


    He had never spoken like this before. Never without a shred of optimism, without some lesson hidden behind his words.


    But now?


    There was nothing.


    Just resignation.


    Just loss.


    I shook my head. ¡°Father, that¡¯s not¡ª¡±


    ¡°I know you want to help me.¡± His voice was softer now. ¡°But the truth is, my fate was sealed the moment I chose your mother.¡±


    I grit my teeth.


    ¡°Why?¡± I demanded. ¡°Why is it impossible? There has to be¡ª¡±


    "To break my seal,¡± he said, voice calm but unshakable, ¡°I would have to free all my contracted beasts from their imprisonment at the same moment.¡±


    I hesitated. ¡°Then why not¡ª?¡±


    "Because if I fail to do so, they would all die, Akul. And I would not be able to live with that."


    I inhaled sharply.


    ¡°They are still bound to me, held somewhere beyond my reach. As long as they live, my contracts remain. I cannot make any new contracts with another beast to replace them. My soul slots are locked. And this curse feeds on my mana preventing me from cultivating. ¡±


    I stared at him, breath uneven.


    ¡°But if you could release them¡­¡±


    His jaw tightened.


    "Release them?"


    ¡°To do that,¡± he said, eyes dark, ¡°It would kill them.¡±


    Silence.


    It rang louder than any words.


    I swallowed. My body felt cold.


    ¡°Akul.¡±


    I looked up.


    My father¡¯s lips twitched into something almost like a smile.


    ¡°Do you know what my father used to tell me?¡± he asked, voice distant. ¡°He said¡­ my compassion would one day be my downfall.¡±


    He let out a forced, dry, mocking laugh.


    ¡°Maybe he was right.¡±


    ¡°No,¡± I snapped, voice sharp and immediate.


    My father blinked, caught off guard by the force in my tone.


    I took a step forward.


    "Never," I said, my voice unwavering. "He was definitely not right, Father.


    "Your father was a jackass." I exclaimed my anger boiling over.


    "Your love, your compassion¡ªthat''s what makes you the man I''m most proud of. The father I admire."


    Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.


    My hands clenched.


    ¡°If that¡¯s a weakness¡­ then I never want to be strong.¡±


    For the first time since this conversation started, I saw something crack in my father¡¯s expression.


    Something raw.


    Something deep.


    And yet¡­


    Even as those words settled between us, something else burned inside me.


    A flame.


    Rage.


    Not just at what they did to him.


    But at how they did it.


    They didn¡¯t just seal his power. They didn¡¯t just exile him.


    They weaponized his own love against him.


    They knew he would never kill his beasts.


    And they used that against him.


    It was sick.


    It was cruel.


    It was unforgivable.


    I clenched my fists tighter.


    I won¡¯t accept this.


    I don¡¯t care how impossible it seems.


    One day¡­


    I will free him.


    A voice cut through the silence.


    ¡°If you don¡¯t want to join them,¡± my father¡¯s friend said suddenly, his tone grim, ¡°then I¡¯ll tell you this now¡ªit¡¯s better if you never go to the Heavenly Tower at all.¡±


    I blinked.


    ¡°What?¡±


    My father sighed.


    His friend crossed his arms, gaze firm.


    ¡°You have the founding father¡¯s inheritance,¡± he said. ¡°The moment they see you, the moment they recognize you¡ª¡±


    ¡°They¡¯ll recognize my father.¡±


    The words slipped from my lips before I could even process them.


    His friend nodded.


    ¡°They will recognize him. They will recognize your mother. And that means they won¡¯t just come after you.¡±


    A chill crawled up my spine.


    ¡°If you step into the Heavenly Tower,¡± his friend continued, voice low, ¡°you have only two choices.¡±


    I swallowed.


    I already knew what he was going to say.


    ¡°You either submit to the family¡­ or you get hunted.¡±


    The words landed like a hammer.


    No middle ground.


    No alternatives.


    I gritted my teeth.


    That was it?


    Join them, bow to them¡ªor die?


    I refused.


    I didn¡¯t want their power. I didn¡¯t want their legacy.


    And I sure as hell didn¡¯t want their chains.


    My hands clenched into fists.


    ¡°Then I won¡¯t go,¡± I said, voice firm.


    The moment felt final.


    Settled.


    Until¡ª


    My father¡¯s friend spoke again.


    ¡°¡­Then go to the Abyssal Tower instead.¡±


    The words dropped like a thunderclap.


    A heavy silence followed.


    Then¡ª


    My father¡¯s expression darkened instantly.


    ¡°What are you saying?¡± he snapped, voice sharp. ¡°Don¡¯t put nonsense in my son¡¯s head.¡±


    I barely heard him.


    Because my focus was locked on his friend.


    ¡°What is the Abyssal Tower?¡± I asked.


    My father groaned, rubbing his temples.


    But his friend only smirked.


    ¡°If the Heavenly Tower is the land of order and legacy,¡± he said, ¡°then the Abyssal Tower is the land of chaos and power.¡±


    My breath hitched.


    ¡°The towers of this world are¡­ vast,¡± he continued. ¡°Each one is like a universe of its own, layered with endless floors. Some floors are larger than entire continents. Some are as large as galaxies.¡±


    I stared.


    Each tower was its own realm?


    ¡°Every floor is different,¡± he went on. ¡°And the higher you climb, the more powerful the forces that rule them.¡±


    I swallowed.


    ¡°And the Abyssal Tower?¡±


    His smirk deepened.


    ¡°The Abyssal Tower isn¡¯t controlled by a single faction,¡± he said. ¡°Unlike the Heavenly Tower, which belongs to humanity, the Abyssal Tower belongs to no one.¡±


    I stiffened.


    ¡°It is the land of monsters, chaos, and war.¡±


    The weight of his words settled into my bones.


    ¡°In the Heavenly Tower, heroes are made,¡± he continued. ¡°In the Abyssal Tower¡­¡±


    He leaned forward slightly.


    ¡°¡­Only the strong survive.¡±


    I exhaled, slow and steady.


    Something about those words resonated with me.


    The Heavenly Tower¡­ the place where my father was broken. Where rules and politics suffocated everything.


    And then there was the Abyssal Tower.


    A place where nothing was given.


    Where strength was the only thing that mattered.


    I didn¡¯t know what I wanted yet.


    But at that moment¡­


    I knew one thing.


    I wanted to learn more.


    ¡°Tell me everything,¡± I said.


    My father was furious.


    His expression darkened, jaw tightening, veins subtly visible beneath his skin.


    ¡°Son, What are you saying?¡± he snapped, glaring at his friend. ¡°I told you, don¡¯t put no nonsense in my son¡¯s head.¡±


    His friend, however, only grinned.


    ¡°Oh? And what nonsense would that be?¡± He leaned back against the wall, arms crossed. ¡°I¡¯m simply giving the boy options.¡±


    I didn¡¯t hesitate.


    ¡°Just tell me. Tell me more.¡±


    My father groaned, rubbing his face.


    ¡°Akul,¡± he said, exasperated, ¡°do you even hear yourself?¡±


    ¡°I do,¡± I said, stubbornly. ¡°And that¡¯s why I want to know more.¡±


    His friend chuckled. ¡°See? He¡¯s got a good head on his shoulders.¡±


    My father looked ready to strangle him.


    But I wasn¡¯t going to let this drop.


    ¡°The Abyssal Tower,¡± I repeated. ¡°What is it?¡±


    The grin faded from his friend¡¯s face.


    His voice lowered.


    ¡°It¡¯s hell.¡±


    I frowned.


    ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    He sighed, then gestured with his hands.


    ¡°The Abyssal Tower isn¡¯t like the Heavenly Tower, where civilizations flourish, where resources are controlled by noble families, sects, and organizations.¡±


    He leaned forward slightly.


    ¡°The Abyssal Tower is a world that actively rejects life.¡±


    I stiffened.


    ¡°From the very first floor, the environment itself tries to kill you.¡±


    My father crossed his arms. ¡°He¡¯s not wrong.¡±


    His friend nodded.


    ¡°The weather is violent¡ªextreme heat, freezing cold, storms that can tear flesh from bone. There are floors where the very air is poisoned. Others where the ground is so unstable it collapses under your feet.¡±


    I swallowed.


    ¡°And the beasts?¡±


    My father¡¯s friend gave me a sharp, knowing look. "Every single one of them is carnivorous."


    A chill ran down my spine.


    ¡°No herbivores? No passive creatures?¡±


    ¡°None.¡± His voice was firm. ¡°Every single beast in that place is an apex predator¡ªterritorial, aggressive, and endlessly hunting. There is no such thing as ¡®neutral ground.¡¯¡±


    My breath hitched.


    A place where everything was trying to kill you.


    But he wasn¡¯t finished.


    ¡°The Abyssal Tower isn¡¯t just a tower,¡± he continued. ¡°It¡¯s also a prison.¡±


    I frowned. ¡°A prison?¡±


    He nodded.


    ¡°The most dangerous criminals, the ones deemed too evil, too powerful, too uncontrollable¡ªthey are all sent to the Abyssal Tower. Sealed inside.¡±


    I stiffened.


    That meant¡ª


    ¡°You¡¯re not just fighting nature,¡± he said. ¡°You¡¯re not just fighting beasts.¡±


    His voice turned grim.


    ¡°You¡¯re fighting other humans, demons, and races who have long abandoned their morality.¡±


    I clenched my fists.


    No governments. No laws. No rules.


    A world where only power dictated survival.


    And yet¡­


    That wasn¡¯t what unsettled me the most.


    What about cities or places people gather?¡± I asked. ¡°How do people live inside the tower?¡±


    My father¡¯s friend smirked.


    ¡°They don¡¯t.¡±


    I froze. ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    ¡°The Abyssal Tower isn¡¯t meant for settlement.¡± He leaned back against the wall. ¡°Because it has something no other tower has.¡±


    I waited.


    Then¡ª


    ¡°Pressure.¡±


    A strange sensation crawled up my spine.


    ¡°Pressure?¡±


    He nodded. ¡°Each floor of the Abyssal Tower has a constant force pressing down on the body. The deeper you go, the heavier it gets.¡±


    He raised a finger.


    ¡°The moment you step onto the second floor, that pressure doubles.¡±


    I inhaled sharply.


    ¡°And on the third?¡±


    ¡°Doubles again.¡±


    My mind spun.


    ¡°That means¡ª¡±


    ¡°Exactly.¡± He grinned. ¡°It¡¯s an exponential increase. The further you go, the more impossible survival becomes.¡±


    I exhaled slowly.


    ¡°And that¡¯s why civilization can¡¯t form?¡±


    He nodded. "Newborns can¡¯t survive. Weaklings can¡¯t adapt. And the moment you stop pushing forward?" "You die."


    I swallowed.


    Even in the Heavenly Tower, people could build homes, cities, legacies.


    But in the Abyssal Tower¡­


    There was no future.


    Only the present.


    Only survival.


    ¡°But it¡¯s not all bad,¡± he added.


    I raised an eyebrow.


    ¡°Oh?¡±


    He smirked.


    ¡°The Abyssal Tower is the most resource-rich place in the world.¡±


    My father groaned again. ¡°Stop encouraging him.¡±


    His friend ignored him.


    ¡°Ancient ruins. Battlefields of fallen warriors. Treasures that have been left untouched for centuries.¡± He spread his arms wide. ¡°Everywhere you go, there¡¯s loot.¡±


    I narrowed my eyes.


    ¡°And yet, few ever make it out with them.¡±


    His grin sharpened.


    ¡°Because in the Abyssal Tower¡­ finding treasure is easy.¡±


    He leaned forward.


    ¡°Keeping it? That¡¯s the real battle.¡±


    I exhaled slowly.


    A world that rejected life.


    A prison filled with criminals.


    An abyss where civilization couldn¡¯t exist.


    And yet¡ª


    It held the greatest rewards.


    ¡°This is madness,¡± my father muttered.


    His friend simply chuckled.


    ¡°And yet, people go.¡±


    My father¡¯s eyes darkened. ¡°Only fools.¡±


    His friend turned to me, ignoring him.


    ¡°Well?¡± He smirked. ¡°What do you think?¡±


    I looked between them.


    My father¡ªhis hands clenched, his disapproval obvious.


    His friend¡ªleaning against the wall, watching me with an expression that said, I know you¡¯re interested.


    And he was right.


    I shouldn¡¯t have been.


    I shouldn¡¯t have even considered it.


    But¡­


    My heart was pounding.

 Chapter 11: A Father’s Final Say & A Return to Normalcy

    The atmosphere shifted.


    The moment my father turned to his friend, his expression hardened.


    ¡°Alright. You¡¯ve said enough." His tone was final. "I think you¡¯ve overstayed your welcome."


    His friend¡¯s smirk didn¡¯t falter. ¡°Oh? Didn¡¯t realize my presence was such a problem.¡±


    My father didn¡¯t waver.


    ¡°Thank you for bringing the golden body monkey,¡± he said, voice controlled. ¡°If there¡¯s anything new, I¡¯ll contact you.¡±


    His friend tilted his head, watching him carefully.


    ¡°We haven¡¯t even eaten breakfast yet,¡± my father continued. "And my son hasn¡¯t even bathed yet."


    He wasn¡¯t subtle.


    Get out.


    A sharp silence followed.


    Then¡ªhis friend chuckled.


    ¡°Alright, alright.¡± He raised his hands in surrender. ¡°I know when I¡¯m being kicked out.¡±


    He turned to me.


    His gaze was knowing.


    Something unspoken passed between us.


    A silent agreement.


    I didn¡¯t have to say a word.


    He knew.


    And my father?


    He knew it too.


    But there was nothing he could do.


    The seed was already planted.


    We didn¡¯t talk about it during breakfast.


    Or lunch.


    Or at all.


    The topic of the Abyssal Tower was buried.


    At least, for now.


    Instead, life continued.


    After eating, I turned my focus back to my golden body monkey.


    He clung to me like a newborn, chirping softly, his tail flicking.


    But there was a problem.


    ¡°What does he eat?¡± I asked.


    Mother pursed her lips, tapping her chin. ¡°I suppose we¡¯ll have to figure that out.¡±


    That meant a trip to the market.


    But first¡ª


    A bath.


    Clean, refreshed, and well-fed, I stepped outside with my monkey perched on my shoulder.


    And of course¡ªThis content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    Word had already spread.


    A small group of kids from the neighborhood gathered outside my house, eyes wide.


    ¡°Akul awakened his artifact?!¡±


    ¡°He already formed a contract?¡±


    ¡°He got a grimoire?¡±


    Excited voices buzzed around me.


    I barely had a second to react before one of my friends rushed up¡ª


    A chubby little girl with round cheeks and big, expressive eyes.


    She wasn¡¯t out of shape¡ªjust soft-looking, plush. The kind of girl who definitely had snacks hidden somewhere.


    ¡°Akul, let me see your monkey!¡± she demanded, tugging at my sleeve.


    I smirked. ¡°Did you even say hello first?¡±


    She pouted. ¡°You can¡¯t just awaken and not show me!¡±


    "Before I could respond¡ª another voice cut in.


    ¡°Ohh, Chia¡¯s being extra clingy today.¡±


    A boy from the group snickered.


    I rolled my eyes. Here we go.


    The teasing started immediately.


    ¡°Akul, you sure you don¡¯t like her?¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s always stuck to you.¡±


    ¡°I bet she sneaks you extra snacks.¡±


    Chia turned bright red.


    ¡°S-Shut up!¡± she snapped, flailing her arms.


    I just grinned.


    And shrugged.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong with liking someone who feeds me?¡±


    The boys howled with laughter.


    Chia made a gasping noise, covering her face. ¡°Akul, you¡ª¡±


    I ruffled her hair.


    ¡°Relax.¡± I smirked. ¡°You know I¡¯m just messing with you.¡±


    She pouted harder.


    But I knew better.


    She wasn¡¯t actually mad.


    She was just flustered.


    ¡°Alright, alright.¡± I held up my hands. ¡°You all wanted to see it, right?¡±


    I raised my grimoire.


    A collective gasp.


    The book hovered beside me, dark pages glowing faintly.


    ¡°That¡¯s so cool¡­¡±


    A few kids reached out, hesitant.


    But the moment they tried to touch it, a pulse of mana pushed their hands away.


    ¡°Whoa!¡±


    ¡°It rejected me!¡±


    I chuckled. ¡°Yeah. My artifact isn¡¯t for anyone else to hold.¡±


    ¡°But what about the monkey?¡±


    I gestured to the golden body monkey, still perched on my shoulder.


    ¡°This little guy,¡± I said, grinning, ¡°is my first contracted beast.¡±


    The kids gawked.


    ¡°That¡¯s insane.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re already a real summoner.¡±


    Some of them looked jealous.


    Others?


    Amazed.


    And Chia?


    She was grinning.


    Like she was proud.


    And honestly?


    For the first time since my awakening¡­


    I felt normal again.


    Like a normal twelve-year-old, showing off something cool to his friends.


    And for now¡­


    That was enough.


    The town¡¯s main street was alive with sound and movement.


    Chatter filled the air, mixed with the occasional calls of merchants, the clatter of hooves¡ªor more accurately, beast claws against stone.


    This wasn¡¯t a market filled with wagons and carriages.


    This was a market built around beasts.


    I walked beside my mother, Lina skipping ahead, and Chia at my side¡ªour little group of friends trailing behind.


    My golden body monkey sat perched on my shoulder, tiny hands gripping my tunic. His round eyes darted around, taking in the world for the first time.


    He wasn¡¯t the only beast here.


    Not by a long shot.


    Beasts were everywhere.


    I had always known this¡ªgrowing up in a summoner¡¯s town, how could I not?


    But today, I saw it differently.


    Because now, I was one of them.


    I wasn¡¯t just looking at them as a bystander.


    I was looking at them as a summoner.


    A merchant sat behind a stall filled with exotic mana-infused fruits¡ªbut he wasn¡¯t the one carrying them.


    A large six-legged reptilian beast stood beside him, its muscular frame covered in glistening, scale-like fur. The merchant casually tossed a crate onto its back, the creature barely shifting under the weight.


    A living pack animal.


    Down the road, a woman rode a massive, feline-like creature with sleek black fur and piercing yellow eyes. It moved without reins, following her unspoken commands with absolute precision.


    A living mount.


    A group of armored guards walked past us, their boots clicking against the stone¡ªbut they weren¡¯t alone.


    By their sides, shadowy hounds padded silently, eyes glowing with faint mana light. Their presence alone was enough to keep the street orderly, citizens stepping aside out of respect¡ªor fear.


    Living law enforcers.


    A skybeast swooped overhead¡ªa gigantic, bird-like creature with elongated wings and a glowing crest.


    Its rider sat comfortably on its back, scanning the market from above.


    A living scout.


    Everything¡ªabsolutely everything¡ªin this town revolved around beasts."


    ¡°Look, look!¡± Lina gasped, pointing ahead.


    A massive, horned beast stomped down the street¡ªfour tusks curving outward, thick armored plates covering its sides.


    People quickly stepped aside as the merchant riding it barked commands, maneuvering the creature toward a trading post.


    Lina giggled, excited. ¡°It¡¯s so big! Akul, can we get one?¡±


    I chuckled. ¡°And where exactly would we put it?¡±


    Chia laughed beside me. ¡°She¡¯d probably make you carry it.¡±


    Lina pouted. ¡°You don¡¯t know that.¡±


    I smirked. ¡°Oh, I know that.¡±


    Lina huffed but got distracted again immediately.


    Everywhere she looked¡ªsomething new, something exciting.


    But me?


    I wasn¡¯t just looking at the cool factor.


    I was observing.


    How summoners commanded their beasts. How they used mana to reinforce their orders.


    How some beasts responded instantly while others hesitated¡ªa sign of weaker bonds or incomplete training.


    And most importantly¡­


    I wondered.


    Could my trait affect them too?


    Could I see their potential?


    Could I manipulate their growth?


    The idea thrilled me.


    But I¡¯d have to test it first.


    The deeper we walked into the market, the more specialized stalls we saw.


    And each one catered to summoners and their beasts.


    A stall selling beast armor displayed reinforced leather for quadrupeds, chainmail for reptilian creatures, even enchanted plating for more exotic summons.


    Another had mana-infused treats designed to boost a beast¡¯s stamina or reinforce their bond.


    One particularly crowded area showcased combat techniques.


    A grizzled old summoner stood at the center, his beast¡ªa hulking, gorilla-like creature with flaming fists¡ª demonstrating powerful strikes.


    People watched in awe as it smashed a reinforced training dummy into splinters.


    But something even more interesting caught my eye.


    A beast auction.


    A large, raised platform stood ahead, surrounded by a thick crowd.


    At the center¡ªa creature inside a reinforced mana cage.


    It was a quadrupedal beast, sleek and lean, its fur a shifting shade of deep blue.


    It snarled, ears flat, muscles coiled to strike.


    ¡°This fine specimen,¡± the auctioneer boasted, ¡°is a Shadowfang Wolf! Agile, fast, and perfect for night operations. Bidding starts at five gold.¡±


    People murmured, interested.


    I paused, watching.


    Not just the wolf.


    The process.


    The way the beast reacted to its surroundings.


    The instinctive distrust in its eyes.


    The subtle muscle tension that told me it was planning to escape.


    I could see it.


    Even without touching it. Even without activating my eyes¡ªI could feel the restriction in his body.


    I clenched my fist.


    My ability was already at work.


    I understood this beast.


    Its fear. Its resistance.


    Its untapped potential.


    And just for a moment¡ª


    I wondered what it would be like to set it free.


    ¡°Akul.¡±


    I turned.


    Mother had a knowing look.


    ¡°Come on,¡± she said. ¡°We still need to find food for your monkey.¡±


    I exhaled, nodding.


    I let go of the thoughts of auctions, contracts, and power.


    For now.


    For now¡­ I was just a boy.


    A summoner with his first beast.


    And I needed to make sure he was well-fed before I tested my powers on him.

 Chapter 12: The Pavilion of Treasures – Unleashing the Growth Skill

    The moment we stepped into the pavilion, I knew this wasn¡¯t just any marketplace.


    Everything about it felt different.


    The air was crisper, infused with a subtle, lingering mana¡ªlike the entire place was built on a natural leyline. The floors weren¡¯t made of simple wood or stone but something smoother, polished, almost reflective, yet soft underfoot. Enchantments hummed in the walls, woven so subtly that if you weren¡¯t paying attention, you¡¯d miss them.


    Even the scent of the air was distinct¡ªfresh, herbal, almost refined. No overwhelming spices, no mixed scents from too many beasts. Just a faint, lingering coolness, like stepping into a different world.


    I had never been here before.


    Neither had my friends.


    And from the way their eyes widened, I wasn¡¯t the only one who noticed the difference.


    ¡°Whoa,¡± Chia whispered beside me, staring at the ceiling. ¡°Even the lamps are mana-infused¡­¡±


    One of the boys¡ªKiro, I think¡ªgrinned and said, "I heard the cheapest thing here costs more than a month¡¯s worth of food.¡¯"


    Another kid nodded in agreement. ¡°My parents say this place is for nobles and big-shot summoners.¡±


    Lina, ever the loud one, gasped dramatically. ¡°So Mom brought us to an elite pavilion? Does this mean we¡¯re rich now?¡±


    I chuckled, shaking my head. ¡°Not exactly.¡±


    But it was clear that this place was different from the usual markets.


    And I had a feeling¡­ this wasn¡¯t just any store.


    Unlike the open markets where vendors shouted their prices, everything here was orderly, elegant, almost¡­ ceremonial.


    Glass display cases lined the walls, each one housing treasures instead of simple goods.


    Inside them, I saw earth-born treasures¡ªnot infused items, but things that had been born from nature itself.


    A glowing sapphire lotus, its petals shimmering with an internal light. A black stone pulsing with slow, rhythmic energy, almost like a heartbeat.


    A crimson fruit, surrounded by thin wisps of smoke, as if it had been plucked straight from a burning mountain.


    These weren¡¯t just rare.


    They were legendary.


    ¡°Mana-infused items are common,¡± Chia murmured, eyes scanning a row of shimmering leaves. ¡°But these¡­ these are things that grow in mana-drenched environments. Natural treasures.¡±


    I nodded slowly.


    Mana-infused goods could be created¡ªa fruit soaked in mana, a blade reforged with mana circuits.


    But these?


    These were born that way.


    And they were far more valuable.


    We were still taking in the sight when my mother suddenly walked ahead, straight past the counters¡ªignoring the shopkeepers who looked like they were about to tell us to step back.


    Instead of stopping at the displays, she called out¡ª


    "¡®Anya! Where¡¯s that useless woman hiding?¡¯"


    The store went silent.


    For a second, nothing happened.


    If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.


    Then¡ª


    A voice from the upper floor.


    ¡°Who¡¯s calling me useless in my own pavilion?¡±


    The sound of heels clicking against polished stone.


    And then¡ªa woman stepped into view.


    She was tall, elegant, dressed in a sleek outfit that screamed wealth but not excess. Her long dark hair was pinned back, accentuating sharp, intelligent eyes.


    At first, her expression was neutral¡ªthe usual coldness of a store owner handling customers.


    But then she got a good look at my mother.


    And her entire face changed.


    ¡°Oh. My. Gods.¡±


    Before I could even process it, the woman practically teleported forward, grabbing my mother by the arms.


    ¡°YOU?! Here?!¡±


    Mother grinned. ¡°In the flesh.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s been YEARS!¡±


    ¡°And you still haven¡¯t found a husband?¡±


    ¡°Oh, shut up!¡±


    The entire pavilion¡¯s staff stared in shock.


    The woman¡ªAnya¡ªwas notorious for being strict, composed, and professional to an almost extreme degree.


    But right now?


    She was laughing, hugging my mother, throwing insults and receiving them just as fast.


    One of the clerks whispered, ¡°I¡ªI¡¯ve never seen Boss smile before.¡±


    Another one muttered, ¡°I didn¡¯t even know she had friends.¡±


    I raised an eyebrow.


    So Mother knew the boss of the pavilion.


    And judging by the reaction, they were very close.


    Anya finally pulled back, eyes scanning the rest of us.


    ¡°These your kids?¡±


    Mother nodded proudly. ¡°This one¡¯s Akul. My eldest.¡±


    Anya looked me up and down. ¡°Hmm.¡±


    I tensed slightly.


    Then¡ªshe smirked. ¡°He¡¯s handsome.¡±


    Chia made a weird choking noise.


    ¡°Careful,¡± Mother said, teasing. ¡°He¡¯s only twelve.¡±


    Anya laughed. ¡°Fine, fine. What brings you here?¡±


    Mother gestured to my monkey. ¡°My son needs the best nutrition for his contracted beast.¡±


    Anya¡¯s eyes flickered with understanding.


    ¡°Say no more.¡± She turned, calling out¡ª¡°Everything they pick is half price.¡±


    More gasps from the staff.


    Then she turned back, smirking. ¡°Actually, scratch that. Everything¡¯s on me.¡±


    Mother grinned. ¡°Still a fool, still reckless with money¡ªas always."


    Anya snorted. ¡°Consider it repayment for the good old days.¡±


    With VIP treatment, we moved through the pavilion picking the best food for my monkey.


    I focused on things that weren¡¯t just nutritional, but things that would maximize its physical growth.


    A fruit known as Titan¡¯s Heart¡ªsaid to fortify the muscles and triple stamina reserves.


    A rare Thunderleaf Vine, which stimulated nerve function, allowing faster reflexes and coordination.


    A Redstone Berry, a powerful energy booster commonly used to raise combat-type beasts.


    And, most importantly¡ª


    A concoction specifically made for young, developing summons.


    Elixir of Prime Growth.


    Not a potion, not a temporary stimulant¡ªbut something that would enhance the monkey¡¯s foundational development.


    It was normally too expensive for common summoners.


    But today?


    I wasn¡¯t paying a single coin.


    By the end of it, the we were overjoyed.


    Mother was chatting away with Anya, catching up on old memories. Lina was bouncing in her seat, stuffing her face with sweet pastries she had guilt-tripped Anya into giving her. Chia and Kiro were arguing over some ridiculous bet, and the staff of the pavilion were still throwing glances our way, whispering about my mother¡¯s unexpected connections.


    But me?


    I had only one thing on my mind.


    I glanced down at my new companion.


    The golden body monkey was perched on my lap, clutching the Titan¡¯s Heart fruit in both tiny hands, nibbling away at it happily. The shimmering golden-red flesh of the fruit was already working its magic, subtly enhancing its physique. But I knew¡ªI could push it further.


    I had been waiting for this moment.


    I wanted to see what I could really do.


    Slowly, I exhaled.


    And with a flick of my wrist¡ª


    I summoned my grimoire.


    The moment my artifact materialized, a wave of golden light pulsed outward, subtle yet undeniable.


    The grimoire hovered beside me, pages shifting, responding to my intent. I reached out, fingers brushing over the dark pages laced with golden script, and focused on the ability I wanted to use.


    ©¥©¥©¥ ¡ó ©¥©¥©¥


    Skill Activated: Adaptive Growth Factor


    ©¥©¥©¥ ¡ó ©¥©¥©¥


    A soft hum resonated from the grimoire.


    A faint golden glow spread from the artifact, trailing down my fingertips, extending toward my monkey.


    The moment the energy touched its body¡ª


    Something shifted.


    The monkey froze mid-bite, its tiny body stiffening as the energy flowed into it.


    And then¡ª


    It began to change.


    It wasn¡¯t instant. It wasn¡¯t some dramatic, explosive transformation.


    But it was visible.


    Slowly, the tiny, palm-sized creature started expanding¡ªits limbs stretching, bones thickening, muscles refining with every passing second.


    Its fur, once a slightly dull gold, deepened into a richer, shinier hue, every strand taking on a more vibrant luster. Its eyes became sharper, clearer, shifting from soft amber to a more intense, intelligent gold.


    Claws elongated, becoming stronger, more defined, while its tail¡ªpreviously thin and delicate¡ªbecame sturdier, more robust, more balanced for combat and movement.


    And as all this happened¡ª


    I felt it.


    I could see its internal structure shifting¡ªbones reinforcing, muscle fibers condensing, heart pumping stronger, faster.


    Everything was becoming denser, more optimized, more efficient.


    This wasn¡¯t just growth.


    This was refinement.


    Then, suddenly¡ª


    The monkey let out a sharp cry.


    Not in pain.


    In hunger.


    A deep, instinctive, overwhelming hunger.


    Its tiny hands gripped the Titan¡¯s Heart, and it started tearing into it like a starving beast, devouring chunks at an insane pace.


    Juices dripped from its mouth, staining its golden fur as it devoured the fruit down to the core.


    But even then¡ª


    Its stomach rumbled.


    The transformation was still burning energy at an insane rate, demanding more fuel to sustain it.


    It needed more.


    I clenched my jaw, immediately cutting off the skill¡¯s effect.


    The golden glow faded.


    The monkey panted, still shaking slightly, but the desperate hunger in its eyes began to settle.


    Even so¡ª


    It lunged toward the remaining food on the table, snatching up another Titan¡¯s Heart fruit and shoving it into its mouth.


    I watched, wide-eyed, as it devoured an entire second fruit in mere moments.


    And then another, only then¡­ did it finally stop.


    It let out a long exhale, eyes half-lidded in satisfaction.


    Then it stretched, testing its new body, flexing its fingers, flicking its tail.


    And just like that¡ª


    It looked completely different from just moments ago.


    Bigger. Stronger. More¡­ complete.


    The entire pavilion had gone silent.


    I turned my head.


    Everyone¡ªmy friends, my mother, Anya, the workers, even complete strangers nearby¡ªwas staring.


    One of the clerks had actually dropped a stack of rare herbs onto the floor.


    Another was halfway through pouring a drink, but his hand had frozen, liquid spilling over the cup¡¯s edge.


    Even Anya, who had been so composed earlier, looked like she had just witnessed a miracle.


    ¡°¡­What did I just see?¡± she murmured.


    Mother¡¯s expression was unreadable.


    She knew I was powerful.


    But even she hadn¡¯t expected¡­ this.


    I swallowed.


    The monkey looked up at me, its golden eyes gleaming with newfound strength.


    It didn¡¯t just look better.


    It looked evolved.


    And the crazy part?


    This was the first step.


    I was still at the beginning of my journey.


    But now, I had everything I needed to make sure my beast wouldn¡¯t just grow¡ª


    It would thrive.

 Chapter 13: Aftermath – Unveiling the Full Potential

    The silence was heavy.


    Too heavy.


    All around me, eyes locked onto me, whispering voices bleeding into the background like an unrelenting buzz.


    I could feel it.


    This wasn¡¯t just amazement¡ªit was danger.


    And before I could even process what to do¡ª


    Anya moved first.


    With the sharp authority of someone who had years of leadership experience, she clapped her hands, voice firm but composed.


    "Alright, everyone¡ªback to work."


    The murmuring halted.


    The staff instinctively straightened, snapping back into their tasks with trained precision. A few lingering customers hesitated, their curiosity still burning, but a single sharp glance from Anya sent them turning away¡ªpretending they hadn¡¯t just witnessed something shocking.


    Then, smoothly, she turned to my mother.


    "Follow me," she said, voice low but urgent.


    I didn¡¯t argue.


    Neither did my mother.


    She reached for Lina, who was still watching me with wide, fascinated eyes, and gently pulled her close.


    "Chia, Kiro," my mother added, casting them a look. "Come with us."


    And just like that¡ª


    We were moving.


    The air inside the back chamber was noticeably tighter.


    The moment the door shut behind us, Anya let out a slow exhale.


    She turned to me.


    "Akul."


    I straightened.


    She wasn¡¯t angry¡ªnot exactly.


    She wasn¡¯t about to scold me like a child.


    But there was something serious in her gaze.


    Something calculating.


    Then, calmly, she spoke.


    "Tell me," she said, folding her arms. "What exactly were you thinking just now?"


    I hesitated. "I just¡ª"


    "¡ªwanted to test your abilities?" she finished for me.


    I nodded.


    Anya sighed, rubbing her temple.


    "Look, kid," she said, voice even. "You¡¯re young. You just awakened. You¡¯re excited. I get it."


    "But what you just did?"


    She met my eyes.


    "That was reckless."


    I frowned. "I didn¡¯t¡ª"


    "Akul," she interrupted smoothly. "I¡¯m not saying what you did was wrong. I¡¯m saying how you did it was dangerous."


    I swallowed.


    Anya leaned against the wall, tilting her head slightly.


    "Let me rephrase," she said. "What do you think happens when an unknown, powerful ability is revealed in public?"


    I didn¡¯t answer.


    "You attract attention," she continued. "And attention? It¡¯s a double-edged sword."


    If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


    My jaw clenched.


    "I didn¡¯t think it would be that big of a deal," I admitted.


    Anya exhaled, shaking her head slightly.


    "Akul."


    Her voice softened.


    "I know you¡¯re smart. And I know you¡¯re strong. But if you¡¯re going to survive in this world, you need to start thinking ahead."


    I stayed quiet.


    Then, beside me, Mother sighed.


    "This was my fault, too," she said, rubbing her forehead. "I should have realized he would be eager to experiment... He''s still young."


    Anya gave her a look, but shook her head. "No. This was his decision."


    She glanced back at me.


    "Just be careful next time," she murmured. "You don¡¯t want the wrong people watching."


    A tense silence followed.


    Then, smoothly, she changed topics.


    "Now," she said. "Let¡¯s analyze that monkey of yours properly."


    Anya gestured to one of the attendants, who quickly brought forward a crystal tablet¡ªa high-quality beast analysis device used in advanced summoning centers.


    "Place your monkey on the table," she instructed.


    I did as told.


    The golden body monkey blinked up at me, then at the unfamiliar surface beneath him, before shifting slightly in curiosity.


    Anya activated the device.


    A soft hum filled the air.


    Then¡ª


    A holographic display shimmered into existence.


    ©¥©¥©¥ ¡ó ©¥©¥©¥


    Species: Golden Body Monkey (Juvenile)


    Age: 4 months


    State: Prime Condition


    Growth Rate: Off The Charts


    Physical Attributes: 240% Above Species Average


    Muscle Density: 320% Above Species Average


    Bone Strength: 290% Above Species Average


    Speed Potential: 280% Above Species Average


    ©¥©¥©¥ ¡ó ©¥©¥©¥


    The room fell silent.


    Chia¡¯s jaw dropped.


    Kiro just stared.


    Even my mother looked visibly stunned.


    Anya?


    Her expression barely changed¡ªbut I saw it.


    The flicker of genuine shock in her gaze.


    "...These are not normal numbers," she murmured, running a finger along the tablet¡¯s surface.


    I swallowed. "Is that bad?"


    Anya let out a dry chuckle. "Bad? No. But this isn¡¯t normal."


    She tapped the screen, flipping through the readings.


    "This is the strongest recorded golden body monkey at its age range I¡¯ve ever seen," she said. "Its physical attributes are beyond what should be biologically possible for such a young creature. Its development has basically surpassed the juvenile stage, even though it is still in its infant stage."


    I nodded slowly.


    I already knew that.


    But hearing it confirmed was still surreal.


    Then¡ªAnya¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly.


    "Let¡¯s go deeper."


    She grabbed a small needle-like tool from the desk.


    "This will extract a small blood sample," she explained. "A full analysis takes more time, but we¡¯ll get a more detailed reading."


    I hesitated.


    The monkey twitched slightly.


    But I placed a reassuring hand on its back.


    "It¡¯s fine," I murmured.


    The monkey relaxed, watching curiously as Anya made a tiny prick on its arm.


    A drop of blood touched the tablet¡¯s scanning surface.


    The device hummed again.


    Then¡ª


    ©¥©¥©¥ ¡ó ©¥©¥©¥


    Species: Golden Body Monkey (Juvenile)


    Bloodline Purity: 91%


    Latent Evolutionary Potential: High


    Genetic Defects: None


    Health Status: Optimal


    Potential Rating: ¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ï (Near Perfection)


    ©¥©¥©¥ ¡ó ©¥©¥©¥


    The room went still.


    Chia whispered, "Five stars¡­"


    Kiro¡¯s brows shot up.


    Anya just stared at the numbers for a long moment.


    Then, finally¡ªshe set the device down.


    "Akul," she said, carefully choosing her words. "I don¡¯t want to pressure you¡­ but I need to see it again."


    I hesitated. "Again?"


    She nodded.


    "You trust me, don¡¯t you?"


    My mother, who had been silent until now, spoke up immediately.


    "I absolutely trust you, Anya."


    Her words were firm, unwavering.


    I turned to her.


    She met my eyes.


    "If my mother trusts you," I said slowly, "then so do I."


    Anya¡¯s expression softened.


    "Then let¡¯s test it again. But this time, let¡¯s do it properly."


    She turned to the attendant, who quickly retrieved a small glass vial filled with a rich, swirling golden liquid.


    "This is a Growth enhancement Concoction," she explained. "It¡¯s a highly concentrated elixir designed to stimulate and enhance beast development. It works best in infants and juveniles."


    I studied the vial.


    "This elixir was designed to help high-ranked summoners develop their newly contracted beasts faster and in a safer manner."


    "You want me to use my skill¡­ but this time, with the concoction?"


    Anya nodded. "Exactly."


    "The effects would usually last a month, but the results could be around a whole year of development."


    I took a breath.


    Then¡ªI summoned my grimoire.


    The air hummed with energy as the dark tome materialized before me, its golden runes flickering softly.


    The monkey tilted its head, staring at it curiously.


    I reached for the Adaptive Growth Factor skill.


    A warm, pulsing energy surged through my palm.


    Unlike last time¡ªthis time, I controlled it.


    A soft golden aura bloomed around the monkey, wrapping its small frame in a subtle glow.


    At the same time¡ªI poured the concoction into a small dish.


    The monkey sniffed the air.


    Then, without hesitation, it began drinking.


    The moment the liquid entered its system¡ª


    The changes began.


    At first, the effects seemed subtle.


    But the longer we watched¡­


    The more we realized¡ªthis wasn¡¯t ordinary growth.


    The monkey¡¯s teeth, once a normal white, now carried a faint golden sheen¡ªas if infused with a metallic brilliance.


    Its claws, formerly a dull brown, darkened into an almost obsidian black.


    The muscles beneath its golden fur became more defined, its posture shifting ever so slightly¡ªmore upright, more poised.


    But the most noticeable change¡ª


    A faint, royal-like marking began to appear on its forehead, forming a thin, elegant, crescent-like emblem that curled into a ring at the edges.


    A mark of distinction.


    A symbol of something more.


    Anya, seeing the visible changes, didn¡¯t waste a second.


    "Run the scan again."


    The assistant moved quickly, activating the crystal tablet once more.


    We could see the number changing in real time.


    As I kept the skill going, I felt the mana drain from my Grimoire. After a few moments, I felt the urge to stop. I believed my artifact had run out of mana¡ªor was close to it.


    The holographic display flickered¡ª


    Then revealed the final results.


    ©¥©¥©¥ ¡ó ©¥©¥©¥


    Species: Golden Body Monkey (Juvenile)


    Age: 4 months


    State: Peak Condition


    Growth Rate: outstanding


    Bloodline Purity: 100% (Flawless)


    Genetic Defects: 0% (None detected)


    Physical Potential: Exceptionally High


    Magical potential: basic¡ª low


    Latent Evolutionary Potential: Locked Until Maturity


    ©¥©¥©¥ ¡ó ©¥©¥©¥


    The room fell silent.


    "One hundred percent¡­" Anya murmured, staring at the screen.


    I swallowed.


    "So¡­ what does that mean?"


    Anya looked at me.


    "It means," she said, voice slower, measured, "that your monkey has reached its absolute peak of its bloodline. There are no flaws, no weaknesses¡ªno wasted potential."


    Her fingers tapped the screen.


    "And this¡­" she pointed to the ''Latent Evolutionary Potential: Locked Until Maturity'' section.


    "This means that it won¡¯t evolve until it naturally matures."


    I frowned. "So it¡¯s still¡­ a golden body monkey?"


    She nodded.


    "But it¡¯s the best possible version of one. The pinnacle of its bloodline. There will never be another one as perfect as this."


    I glanced at my companion, who was now stretching its limbs, testing its refined body.


    The difference was clear.


    It didn¡¯t just look different.


    It felt different.


    Stronger. Sharper. More¡­ complete.


    Anya leaned back, still processing.


    Then, suddenly, she let out a breathless chuckle.


    "Akul," she said, shaking her head. "I have to ask¡­"


    She met my eyes.


    "Do you have¡­ more skills?"


    I stiffened.


    A flicker of amusement crossed her features.


    "Because what you just did? That alone is ridiculous. If you tell me you have more, I might actually start believing your awakening was heaven-defying."


    I forced a neutral expression.


    ¡­If you only knew.


    But I didn¡¯t say that out loud.


    Instead, I played it safe.


    I nodded.


    "I have a few more."


    Anya exhaled, as if she expected that answer but still wasn¡¯t ready for it.


    "Alright," she muttered. "Go on, then. Surprise me."


    I kept it simple.


    "I can accelerate recovery, but it¡¯s not instant healing," I explained. "It just speeds up natural regeneration."


    Anya nodded, taking that in.


    "And?"


    I hesitated, but then decided this one was safe to reveal.


    "I can¡­ increase learning ability."


    She blinked.


    Then her expression visibly shifted.


    "¡­You¡¯re telling me," she said slowly, "that you can make your beast learn faster?"


    I nodded.


    She stared at me for a long second.


    Then¡ªshe laughed.


    "Alright," she said, shaking her head. "That¡¯s it. I give up. Your awakening¡­ is just completely unfair."


    She sighed, rubbing her forehead.


    "Not only do you have a beast at 100% bloodline purity, but you also have the ability to make it heal faster and learn faster."


    I just shrugged.


    Anya let out another short laugh.


    "Akul," she said, shaking her head. "I don¡¯t know if I should be impressed¡­ or afraid."


    I just smiled.


    But deep down¡­


    I knew.


    This was only the beginning.


    And there were some things I still wasn¡¯t ready to reveal.


    My eyes.

 Chapter 14: Evolution, Transformation, and an unwanted interest.

    The room had settled, but my mind hadn¡¯t.


    I stared at the golden body monkey, now stronger, sharper, and more refined than before.


    And yet¡­


    I felt a small weight in my chest.


    I wanted it to evolve.


    Not just reach peak condition¡ªbut actually evolve into something greater.


    My fingers traced the cover of my grimoire, frustration simmering.


    Anya, watching me closely, let out a small sigh.


    "You seem a little disappointed," she observed.


    I hesitated, then nodded. "I thought¡­ it would evolve."


    She gave me a sympathetic smile.


    But before she could say anything¡ª


    My mother spoke.


    "Akul," she said softly, stepping forward. "There¡¯s something important you need to understand."


    She pulled up a chair, settling beside me.


    "Your artifact has ranks," she began.


    I blinked. "Ranks?"


    She nodded.


    "Your artifact isn¡¯t just a grimoire¡ªit¡¯s a living, growing entity. And like all artifacts, it starts at the lowest level and has to rank up over time."


    She raised one hand, counting with her fingers.


    "The ranks go as follows: Common, Copper, Silver, Gold, Platinum, and Diamond."


    I took that in, mentally repeating the order.


    "And what do those ranks mean?" I asked.


    Mother¡¯s lips curled into a small smile.


    "They determine the strength of the beasts you can contract."


    I sat up straighter.


    "A Common-rank artifact can only form contracts with Common-rank beasts. A Copper-rank artifact can contract Copper-rank beasts. And so on, all the way up to Diamond."


    A realization struck me.


    "So¡­ if my monkey is still Common-rank¡­"


    She nodded.


    "Then it can¡¯t evolve until your artifact ranks up."


    That answer wasn¡¯t what I wanted to hear, but before I could argue, my mother held up a finger.


    "There¡¯s something else you need to know," she said.


    "Evolution isn¡¯t the only way a beast can change."


    I tilted my head. "What do you mean?"


    "Beasts can undergo bloodline transformation."


    I frowned. "Transformation?"


    She nodded.


    "In simple terms," she explained, "when a beast evolves, it advances to the next rank¡ªfrom Common to Copper, Copper to Silver, and so on. Evolution is a complete advancement in power and form."


    I slowly nodded.


    "But there¡¯s another type of change¡ªtransformation."


    I waited.


    "A transformation doesn¡¯t change the rank," she continued. "It changes the species. It alters the bloodline. The beast remains the same rank, but it becomes a **variant¡ª**a unique version of its kind."


    That caught my attention.


    "So¡­ it¡¯s like a mutation?" I asked.The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.


    Mother¡¯s expression turned serious.


    "No," she corrected. "Mutation implies a negative defect¡ªsomething unnatural or unwanted."


    She met my gaze.


    "What I¡¯m talking about is a deliberate, controlled transformation. A way to bring out hidden potential within a beast¡¯s bloodline."


    My heart beat faster.


    "So you¡¯re saying¡­ my monkey can still transform?"


    She gave a slow nod.


    "Yes. But¡ªit¡¯s not easy."


    I leaned forward.


    "How does it work?"


    My mother hesitated.


    Then, almost reluctantly, she spoke.


    "It¡¯s done through alchemy. Through careful selection of resources¡ªnatural treasures, rare materials, and specially crafted concoctions."


    I furrowed my brows.


    "Like the Growth Concoction?"


    She let out a short laugh.


    "No, that was a simple nourishing tonic. What I¡¯m talking about is far more complex."


    A small, melancholic look flickered across her face.


    "You see, Akul¡­ before I settled down, this was my field of expertise."


    I blinked.


    "You mean¡­"


    She nodded.


    "I worked in a variation research center. My job was to study how to induce transformations in beasts. I spent years developing methods to refine, enhance, and alter bloodlines."


    I sat there, stunned.


    I had never known this about my mother.


    "I worked on many species," she continued. "But¡­ never a golden body monkey."


    Her eyes grew distant.


    "And now, I¡¯ve left that field behind."


    For a second, none of us spoke.


    Then¡ª


    "Do you regret it?" I asked quietly.


    She smiled softly.


    "No," she murmured. "I have you. And that¡¯s worth more than anything."


    I lowered my gaze.


    But even so¡ª


    I could see the lingering emotion in her eyes.


    She missed it.


    She missed her work.


    Her research.


    Her passion.


    I clenched my fists.


    Maybe¡­


    Maybe I could help her reclaim that.


    "So¡­" I exhaled. "If I ever wanted my monkey to transform¡ªhow would I do it?"


    Mother gave a small smile.


    "You¡¯d need to find the right resources," she said. "And more importantly¡­ someone skilled enough to craft the perfect formula."


    A pause.


    Then she added, almost teasingly¡ª


    "Or¡­ you could learn it yourself."


    I froze.


    The thought had never crossed my mind.


    Alchemy.


    Research.


    The power to shape my own beasts.


    I swallowed.


    I had always assumed I would only be a summoner.


    But now¡ª Maybe ...


    My head was spinning with possibilities, but time was also running out, and we had more things to do: an enclosure to care for and many beasts to feed.


    We were just about to leave the pavilion when a sharp voice cut through the air.


    "Excuse me!"


    I turned, eyes narrowing as a man in long research robes strode toward us. The emblem of the Beast Research Institute gleamed on his chest¡ªa mark of one of the most prestigious organizations dedicated to studying, cataloging, and experimenting on beasts.


    His gaze swept past everyone before locking onto me¡ªor more specifically, onto the golden body monkey perched on my shoulder.


    "I heard," he said smoothly, adjusting the small spectacles on his nose, "that an unusual mutation occurred here today."


    A sharp, uncomfortable feeling settled in my gut.


    Before I could respond, my mother stepped forward, her tone calm but firm.


    "And you are?"


    The man didn¡¯t even blink.


    "Rohen Valtar. Senior researcher of the Beast Research Institute." His voice carried an air of entitlement, like his name alone should mean something to us. "And I¡¯d like to examine that beast you have there."


    My fingers instinctively curled around my grimoire.


    Something about this guy felt¡­ off.


    Not hostile, exactly. But too confident. Too entitled.


    I didn¡¯t like it.


    But before I could refuse, my mother spoke again.


    "We appreciate your interest," she said, her tone polite but distant. "But my son¡¯s beast is not up for study."


    Rohen let out a small, amused chuckle.


    "Madam, I assure you, this is just a simple assessment. Nothing intrusive, nothing dangerous. We at the Institute dedicate ourselves to advancing the understanding of beast evolution and transformation."


    His gaze flickered toward me.


    "Surely, as a young summoner, you understand the importance of that?"


    I fought the urge to roll my eyes.


    Still, I could feel my mother tense beside me.


    I glanced at her.


    She hadn¡¯t told me much about her past work¡­ but it was clear this man knew exactly who she was.


    That alone made me uneasy.


    A tense pause stretched between us.


    Then, finally, I let out a slow breath.


    "Fine," I muttered. "But just look. No touching, no testing, and definitely no trying to take it away."


    Rohen¡¯s lips curved into a smile.


    "Of course," he said smoothly. "Just a simple observation."


    But the moment his gaze fell on my monkey¡ª


    His expression changed.


    His entire body froze, eyes widening slightly as he scanned my companion.


    The golden body monkey radiated strength, its fur brighter, denser, its muscles compact yet powerful. Every small movement was fluid, refined, like a beast born at the pinnacle of its species.


    Rohen¡¯s lips parted slightly, as if he couldn¡¯t believe what he was seeing.


    "Fascinating¡­" he murmured, adjusting his spectacles.


    Then his expression darkened.


    "This¡­" His fingers twitched. "This is not a normal mutation."


    I clenched my jaw.


    "Yeah? It''s not a mutation." I said flatly. "How do you not know that your a researcher."


    His gaze snapped to mine.


    "Whatever..."


    "This beast," he said, his voice sharper now, "has undergone a transformation of unparalleled perfection. Its genetic structure, physical potential, and raw capabilities exceed anything recorded for its species."


    I didn¡¯t respond.


    I already knew that.


    But I didn¡¯t like the way he was looking at my monkey now.


    Like it was a specimen.


    Like it was something that didn¡¯t belong to me.


    Rohen straightened, his demeanor shifting.


    "Listen," he said, suddenly all business. "This beast is clearly an anomaly. If we study it, we could unlock groundbreaking discoveries in summoning, evolution, and beast enhancement."


    His smile widened.


    "So, let¡¯s make a trade."


    My fingers twitched.


    "A trade?" I repeated.


    "Yes," he nodded. "The Institute has access to hundreds of powerful, high-potential beasts. If you give us this monkey for research, I will personally see to it that you are compensated generously."


    I just stared.


    So he spoke again.


    "You¡¯re still young. You haven''t bonded with it yet. Why not exchange it for something more¡­ worthwhile?"


    Then I laughed.


    Right in his face.


    "You want me to give up my beast," I said, voice laced with disbelief, "because you think it¡¯s special?"


    Rohen didn¡¯t flinch.


    "If you can be reasonable," he said. "In return, I can offer you a much stronger, rarer creature."


    My expression darkened.


    "And if I say no?"


    His smile thinned.


    "Then I strongly suggest you reconsider."


    The temperature in the room shifted.


    Before I could snap back, my mother stepped forward.


    Her voice was cold.


    "My son¡¯s beast is not for sale."


    Rohen¡¯s smile thinned.


    "Now, madam," he said, still too calm, "let¡¯s not be hasty. Surely you understand the opportunity here. Imagine what could be achieved if we¡ª"


    "As e professional your behavior is very unbecoming."


    Rohen opened his mouth to argue¡ª


    But then¡ª


    "She already said no."


    The voice cut through the air like a blade.


    Rohen blinked.


    Then he turned¡ª


    To see Anya, arms crossed, staring him down.


    She wasn¡¯t smiling.


    She wasn¡¯t amused.


    And neither were the workers in the pavilion.


    What was once idle curiosity had turned into something sharper.


    Something hostile.


    Then Anya took a slow step forward and¡ª


    Smiled.


    "Rohen," she said sweetly, voice dripping with mockery.


    "You¡¯ve been in my pavilion for a while now."


    She tilted her head.


    "And I think you¡¯ve overstayed your welcome."


    Rohen¡¯s brows furrowed.


    "Anya," he started, "I¡¯m simply trying to¡ª"


    "You¡¯re trying to pressure a child into giving up his beast," she cut in smoothly. "And I don¡¯t like that."


    Her smile vanished.


    "So, let me make this clear."


    She gestured toward the entrance.


    "Get. Out."


    Silence.


    Rohen stiffened, glancing around¡ªonly to realize that everyone was now watching him.


    The pavilion workers.


    The customers.


    The guards near the entrance.


    All of them had one thought in mind.


    He wasn¡¯t welcome here.


    He exhaled sharply, adjusting his robes.


    "Very well," he said, forcing a strained smile. "I can see that I am not wanted here."


    He turned back to me one last time.


    "You¡¯ve made a foolish decision today," he said, voice lower. "I hope you won¡¯t come to regret it."


    I smirked.


    "Get lost."


    His jaw tightened¡ªbut he didn¡¯t say another word.


    He simply turned on his heel and strode away.


    The moment he was gone, the tension snapped.


    Anya rolled her shoulders.


    "Whew," she muttered. "That was annoying."


    My mother sighed.


    "Thank you, Anya."


    She grinned.


    "Anytime."


    Then she turned to me.


    "Now," she said, "let¡¯s get out of here before that idiot changes his mind."


    I nodded.


    But as we left the pavilion, I couldn¡¯t shake the feeling¡ª


    That this wasn¡¯t over.

 Chapter 15: Home… and Unwelcome Guests

    I should have known something was wrong the moment we reached the front gate.


    Mother stiffened.


    My monkey tensed on my shoulder.


    And Lina¡ª


    Lina scowled.


    Then, before we could process the situation ¡ª


    ¡°MOMMY!¡± she bellowed, pointing a tiny, accusatory finger.


    ¡°That¡¯s the Betty-faced thief who tried to steal Brother¡¯s monkey!¡±


    I blinked. ¡°...Betty-faced?¡±


    But it was too late.


    Lina stormed forward, all five years of rage packed into her tiny frame.


    And standing there, looking far too smug for my liking, was him.


    Rohen Valtar.


    Standing in our yard.


    Talking to my father.


    Like he belonged here.


    I saw red.


    ¡°You again?¡± I snapped.


    Rohen turned, the same mocking politeness smeared across his face.


    ¡°Ah, young Akul. Back from your outing, I see.¡±


    He adjusted his sleeves, completely unfazed.


    ¡°Perfect timing. I was just speaking with your father about an offer.¡±


    Lina stomped right up to him, placed her hands on her hips¡ª


    And kicked him in the shin.


    Hard.


    ¡°OW!¡±


    Rohen stumbled back, grabbing his leg. ¡°What in the¡ª¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s for trying to steal Bobo!¡±


    I choked as my brain short-circuited.


    ¡°Bobo?¡±


    ¡°His name is Bobo!¡± she declared, arms crossed.


    My monkey tilted his head. He didn¡¯t look opposed.


    Mother sighed. ¡°Lina¡­¡±


    Rohen straightened, glaring down at her. ¡°What kind of¡ª¡±Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on.


    ¡°Excuse me?¡± Mother cut in, voice sharp. ¡°You were just saying?¡±


    Rohen took a slow breath, forcing another fake smile.


    ¡°Yes,¡± he said tightly. ¡°I was simply offering a mutually beneficial exchange¡ª¡±


    ¡°No,¡± my father said flatly.


    Rohen blinked.


    Father hadn¡¯t even looked at him.


    Just stood there, arms crossed, gaze unreadable.


    ¡°I haven¡¯t even¡ª¡±


    ¡°No.¡±


    Mother exhaled through her nose. ¡°Rohen, I believe we¡¯ve already had this discussion.¡±


    ¡°Ah, but you see¡ª¡±


    ¡°No.¡±


    Rohen¡¯s jaw twitched.


    ¡°¡­I don¡¯t think you understand the gravity of¡ª¡±


    ¡°No.¡±


    Lina grinned. ¡°That¡¯s a lot of nos, mister.¡±


    I smirked.


    Then Rohen¡¯s smile dropped.


    ¡°Enough of this nonsense.¡± He adjusted his robe, annoyance finally cracking through.


    ¡°I am a researcher from the Beast Research Institute. I have spent my entire life studying and nurturing creatures with potential. Do you truly believe that this beast¡ª¡±


    He gestured toward my monkey with thinly veiled disdain.


    ¡°¡ªwill reach its full potential under a child?¡±


    I clenched my fists.


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    Rohen scoffed.


    ¡°Listen to yourself,¡± he sneered. ¡°A physical-type beast with no magical ability? No grand bloodline? You¡¯re wasting a valuable¡ª¡±


    ¡°Step away from my son.¡±


    The air froze.


    The words hadn¡¯t come from my father.


    They hadn¡¯t come from my mother.


    They had come from someone else.


    A voice that cut through the conversation like a blade.


    And then, for the first time, I saw something new on Rohen face.


    A flicker of¡­ hesitation.


    No.


    Not just hesitation.


    Respect.


    Slowly, he turned.


    And when Rohen turned, his face went pale.


    ¡°Sir...Rhyzar?¡±


    Rhyzar leaned casually against the gate.


    But his eyes¡ª


    His eyes weren¡¯t casual at all.


    They were sharp.


    Cutting.


    Watching.


    And smiling¡ª


    But in the way a predator smiles before it strikes.


    ¡°Valtar,¡± he drawled, pushing off the gate. ¡°You just can¡¯t help yourself, can you?¡±


    Rohen swallowed.


    ¡°I¡ª¡±


    Rohen adjusted his robes, straightening immediately.


    ¡°Sir Rhyzar,¡± he greeted stiffly, bowing slightly.


    So that was his name.


    I filed it away for later.


    ¡°I thought the Institute had rules about harassment?¡± Rhyzar continued smoothly, stepping forward. ¡°Or do you get special privileges?¡±


    Rohen tensed.


    ¡°I was simply negotiating a¡ª¡±


    ¡°A deal that was already rejected.¡±


    Rhyzar stopped a mere foot away, staring him down.


    ¡°So tell me,¡± he said, voice lowering,


    ¡°Why. Are. You. Still. Here?¡±


    Silence.


    Rohen¡¯s hands twitched.


    Then, finally, he exhaled.


    ¡°I see my presence is unwelcome,¡± he said stiffly.


    ¡°Noooo,¡± Rhyzar said, dragging out the word.


    Then he smirked.


    ¡°It¡¯s just you that¡¯s unwelcome.¡±


    Rohen¡¯s eye twitched.


    Then, with one last glance at my father, he adjusted his robe and turned.


    ¡°This conversation isn¡¯t over,¡± he muttered.


    And just like that¡ª


    He left.


    I exhaled.


    The tension was still thick, but as I turned back to Rhyzar¡ª


    He was already looking at me.


    And in that moment¡ª


    I don¡¯t know how, I don¡¯t know why, but¡ª


    We had reached a silent understanding.


    Rhyzar¡¯s smirk barely changed.


    But his eyes said something else.


    We needed to talk.


    And judging by the flicker in his eyes¡ª


    He thought the exact same thing.


    After dinner, after everything settled down, Rhyzar found me.


    "Akul," he said, his voice lighter now, less intense than earlier. "Walk with me."


    I didn¡¯t argue.


    We walked a little outside, where the stars hung heavy in the sky.


    ¡°¡­So,¡± I said finally. ¡°You¡¯re kind of a big deal, huh?¡±


    Rhyzar laughed. "A big deal? No. But I know how to make certain people listen."


    I didn¡¯t press.


    Instead, I asked what had been sitting at the back of my mind all day.


    ¡°¡­Why do you care so much?"


    For the first time since I met him¡ª


    His expression softened.


    And then, quietly, he said:


    "Because your father saved my life."


    I blinked.


    He wasn¡¯t smirking anymore.


    "This was years ago," Rhyzar continued, crossing his arms. "I was reckless, too ambitious, and made the mistake of thinking I could take on something far above my level."


    He chuckled, but there was no humor in it.


    "I should have died that day. But your father? He stepped in. No hesitation. Threw away everything just to drag my sorry ass out alive."


    I swallowed.


    "He lost so much, Akul. He gave up everything." Rhyzar exhaled, shaking his head. "And I¡¯ve spent years trying to repay that debt. Trying to find a way to help him. But I¡¯ve hit a wall."


    His eyes met mine.


    "And the only person who might be able to change things¡­ is you."


    My breath hitched.


    "You mean¡ª?"


    "I mean," Rhyzar said, "that your father¡¯s beasts are being held hostage."


    I clenched my fists.


    "But there¡¯s no way to find them."


    "Not from outside the family, no," he admitted. "But if someone got in¡­ someone with the right leverage¡­"


    I stiffened.


    "You want me to go back to them?"


    Rhyzar sighed.


    "Not now," he said. "Not while you''re weak. Not while they could crush you the moment they recognize what you are."


    He crossed his arms.


    "But if you grow strong enough to stand your ground, strong enough to be useful to them¡ªbut not a threat¡ª"


    He let the thought hang.


    The realization sank in.


    "...Then they¡¯ll let me in."


    Rhyzar nodded.


    "You could get close. Find out where they keep your father¡¯s beasts. Find out if there¡¯s a way to free them."


    I bit my lip.


    "But if I¡¯m too strong, they¡¯ll see me as a threat and try to get rid of me."


    "Exactly," Rhyzar said. "And that¡¯s why I suggested the Abyssal Tower."


    I frowned.


    "What does that have to do with¡ª?"


    "Because the Abyssal Tower is the perfect place to grow powerful without being noticed."


    Then he looked at me, those eyes that bored deeper, as I felt his intensity bore into my soul.


    "And because the only way to survive there... is to become a monster yourself."


    The weight of his words settled over me.


    I understood now.


    This wasn¡¯t about revenge.


    It wasn¡¯t about hatred.


    This was about freeing my father.


    And to do that¡ª


    I would have to play the long game.


    I exhaled.


    ¡°¡­I need time to think.¡±


    Rhyzar grinned.


    "Take all the time you need, kid."


    "But," he added, smirking as he walked away,


    "Just don''t take too long."

 Chapter 16: Lessons of Power & Growth

    The moment I stepped inside, I knew.


    Father¡¯s eyes met mine¡ªcalm, steady, unreadable. But behind them, there was something else.


    You know why this is happening, right?


    I swallowed.


    I did.


    I hadn¡¯t thought about it in the pavilion, too caught up in the moment, too eager to test my abilities. But now? Now it was clear.


    I had been reckless.


    And this¡ªRohen showing up at our home, his unwanted interest in Bobo¡ªwas the consequence.


    Guilt stirred in my chest.


    Mother must have told him everything.


    Lina, of course, had no such awareness. She stomped past me, grumbling under her breath. ¡°Stupid Betty-faced thief¡­ don¡¯t let me see you again or Lina will give you another ...hiyaa!¡±


    As she spoke, she threw a dramatically powerful kick in the air as she stomped out of the room.


    Father exhaled through his nose, shaking his head slightly before turning back to me. ¡°Come.¡±


    I followed him into the study.


    The door closed behind us, sealing us in.


    For a moment, neither of us spoke.


    Then¡ª


    ¡°Explain.¡±


    I hesitated.


    But I owed him this much.


    I told him everything.


    Not just about Bobo¡¯s transformation. Not just about the researcher¡¯s reaction.


    I told him about my power.


    About the Eyes of Origin.


    About how, the moment Bobo touched me, I could see everything¡ªhis structure, his weaknesses, his potential.


    I told him how I could alter those things.


    How I could stimulate growth, refine genetics, accelerate transformation¡ª


    How I could see into the very essence of beasts.


    Father listened carefully, not interrupting once.


    When I finally finished, he exhaled slowly, rubbing his chin. ¡°...So, it¡¯s true.¡±


    I blinked. ¡°What is?¡±


    He met my gaze. ¡°The Eyes of Origin have returned.¡±


    Something in his tone made my breath catch.


    ¡°You know about them?¡±


    A small, wry smile. ¡°Not firsthand. But I know about the one who had them before.¡±


    I swallowed. ¡°The Founding Father.¡±


    Father nodded.


    ¡°Your ability,¡± he said, ¡°is recorded in our family¡¯s history. It belonged to the very man who built our bloodline¡ªthe one whose legacy we are still tied to, even now.¡±


    I straightened, listening intently.


    ¡°What could he do?¡±


    Father¡¯s expression turned thoughtful. ¡°The records say his eyes saw beyond the present¡ªbeyond what was, into what could be. He was not just a summoner; he was a creator. He didn¡¯t just bond with beasts. He shaped them.¡±


    I tensed.


    That sounded¡­ exactly like what I had done.


    ¡°But,¡± Father continued, ¡°it is also written that his ability changed as he grew. It wasn¡¯t limited to what he could see at birth.¡±


    I inhaled sharply. ¡°You mean¡ª¡±


    ¡°Your Eyes of Origin will evolve,¡± he confirmed. ¡°As your artifact ranks up, as your own power grows, so too will your eyes.¡±


    I clenched my fists.


    This was just the beginning.


    ¡°What else did he do?¡± I pressed. ¡°How strong did he become?¡±


    Father exhaled. ¡°He was a legend. His beasts were unlike any seen before. He didn¡¯t just raise creatures¡ªhe perfected them. Pushed them beyond their limits. Broke barriers others thought were unbreakable.¡±


    A spark ignited in my chest.


    That¡ªthat was what I wanted.


    To create something unmatched.


    To shape a beast that defied all expectations.


    But then¡ª


    ¡°How did he die?¡± I asked.


    Father¡¯s gaze darkened slightly.


    ¡°No one knows,¡± he admitted. ¡°The records say he vanished. Some say he was betrayed. Others say he ascended beyond this world entirely.¡±This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.


    I swallowed.


    Vanished.


    Ascended.


    No clear ending.


    I wasn¡¯t sure how I felt about that.


    But before I could dwell on it¡ª


    ¡°There¡¯s something else you need to understand,¡± Father said.


    I focused.


    ¡°You¡¯ve already seen it for yourself,¡± he continued. ¡°Your power is linked to your artifact.¡±


    I blinked. ¡°What?¡±


    Father folded his arms. ¡°Your abilities, your innate skill, your beast¡¯s growth¡ªall of it is bound to the rank of your artifact.¡±


    The realization settled over me.


    My Eyes of Origin. My skills. Even Bobo¡¯s evolution.


    It all tied back to my grimoire.


    Father nodded, seeing the understanding on my face.


    ¡°Your grimoire is currently at Common Rank. That means you are still at the starting point. If you want to grow stronger, if you want to unlock more of your abilities¡ªyou must raise its rank.¡±


    I swallowed. ¡°How?¡±


    Father raised a finger.


    ¡°There are three conditions.¡±


    I leaned in.


    ¡°One,¡± he said. ¡°You must complete your Beast Space.¡±


    I nodded slowly. ¡°That¡¯s the space inside my soul where my contracted beasts reside, right?¡±


    ¡°Correct,¡± he said. ¡°The quality of that space determines how strong your summons will be.¡±


    I took a deep breath.


    I had started forming my Beast Space, but it wasn¡¯t complete yet.


    Father held up a second finger.


    ¡°Two,¡± he said. ¡°You must raise your beast to the pinnacle of the Common rank.¡±


    I glanced at Bobo.


    He was perched on my shoulder, nibbling on a piece of dried fruit, his golden fur gleaming under the lamplight.


    ¡°The pinnacle?¡± I frowned. ¡°But¡­ he¡¯s still a baby.¡±


    Father nodded. ¡°Exactly. He has a long way to go.¡±


    I exhaled. That made more sense. Even though Bobo had refined to an extraordinary level, he hadn¡¯t matured. He was still an infant¡ªhis body had the potential, but he had yet to grow into it.


    ¡°It¡¯s not just about physical refinement,¡± Father continued. ¡°A beast must develop¡ªgain experience, strength, and instinct. Only when it is truly ready to evolve will it reach its peak.¡±


    I nodded slowly.


    So even if Bobo was already at an elite level for his age, he wasn¡¯t actually at his true peak.


    That meant I still had work to do.


    Father met my gaze. ¡°Raising him properly will take time. Don¡¯t rush it.¡±


    I inhaled, steadying myself.


    I understood.


    A third finger.


    ¡°Three,¡± he finished. ¡°You must saturate your artifact with mana.¡±


    I frowned. ¡°What does that mean?¡±


    ¡°You need to cultivate,¡± he explained. ¡°Gather mana, refine it, strengthen your artifact. Once your grimoire is saturated with enough energy, and you¡¯ve met the other two conditions¡ªit will evolve naturally.¡±


    I exhaled.


    So that was how it worked.


    It wasn¡¯t about just getting stronger.


    It was a process.


    ¡°Bronze Rank,¡± Father continued, ¡°is the first step. It is the easiest to reach, but it determines everything going forward.¡±


    I tensed.


    ¡°Why?¡±


    ¡°Because,¡± he said simply, ¡°it is the foundation upon which all your future power will stand. If you rush it, if you build it carelessly¡ªyou will regret it later.¡±


    A slow chill crept down my spine.


    I understood now.


    If I didn¡¯t build my Beast Space properly¡­ if I didn¡¯t cultivate correctly¡­


    It would weaken me forever.


    I clenched my fists.


    ¡°Alright,¡± I said. ¡°Then I¡¯ll do it properly.¡±


    Father smiled. ¡°Good.¡±


    I met his gaze, determination settling in.


    This was my path.


    This was my foundation.


    And I would build it right.


    I was done being reckless.


    Done underestimating what my powers meant.


    I would cultivate.


    I would train.


    I would grow.


    And when the time came?


    I would step into Bronze Rank on my own terms.


    I lifted my gaze.


    "Alright," I said, determination settling in my chest.


    "I¡¯m ready."


    The night was still.


    A faint breeze drifted through the open window, rustling the curtains, but inside my room, there was only silence.


    I sat cross-legged on my bed, the grimoire hovering in front of me, pages glowing faintly.


    Bobo curled up beside me, small but warm, his golden fur rising and falling with each soft breath.


    Tonight would be different.


    I inhaled slowly, letting my mind sink into cultivation. The moment I connected, the grimoire responded, flickering with light as it began drawing in mana from the surroundings.


    Just like before, it felt effortless¡ªlike an engine set into motion, running on its own.


    But tonight, I wouldn¡¯t just cultivate.


    Tonight, I would create.


    I closed my eyes, focusing inward.


    The Beast Space.


    A summoner¡¯s first true domain, built entirely from their will. A world where their contracted beasts could rest, train, and grow.


    Without a fully-formed Beast Space, my grimoire would never advance. My bond with Bobo would remain incomplete.


    I had to make it real.


    I exhaled, letting my mind expand, reaching toward the empty void within my artifact.


    Darkness.


    Endless, formless space. A blank canvas waiting to be shaped.


    I pictured the world Bobo needed.


    Not just a jungle¡ªhis jungle.


    Towering trees, ancient and massive, their trunks thick with golden moss. Sunlight filtering through a dense canopy, dappling the forest floor in shifting patterns. Vines twisting like bridges between branches, perfect for climbing.


    A rushing river, crisp and clear, cutting through the land¡ªbecause monkeys needed water, and Bobo deserved the best.


    Fruits of every kind, hanging low, abundant.


    Everything Bobo could ever need.


    The moment I visualized it, the space responded.


    Faint lights flickered in the darkness, the first threads of creation weaving into place.


    I could feel it forming, piece by piece.


    But it wasn¡¯t just about seeing it.


    I had to believe in it.


    I had to internalize it¡ªmake it part of me, part of my artifact, part of Bobo.


    This world had to be real.


    I pushed harder, pouring my will into every detail.


    The trees solidified. The river began to flow. The wind whispered through the leaves.


    And then¡ª


    A presence.


    Not mine.


    Bobo stirred beside me, his little body suddenly tensed.


    I opened my eyes, looking down¡ªhis deep golden gaze met mine.


    He wasn¡¯t just watching.


    He was feeling it.


    Experiencing the world I was creating.


    A surge of warmth bloomed in my chest.


    Our bond was deepening.


    But it wasn¡¯t enough.


    I wanted more.


    I reached for the grimoire, flipping to the page where my skills were recorded.


    Harmonic Link.


    The Bonding & Emotional Control Branch.


    A skill that allowed me to strengthen my connection with Bobo¡ªnot just as a summoner, but as something deeper.


    I activated it.


    A soft pulse of golden light spread from my grimoire, washing over both of us.


    And suddenly¡ª


    I felt everything.


    Bobo¡¯s curiosity. His instinctive joy at the world I was building. His contentment beside me.


    And something else.


    A trust so absolute, so unwavering, that it stole my breath.


    A strange pull.


    That was the first thing I felt.


    The moment Harmonic Link activated, it was like something inside me stretched¡ªlike I had taken a step forward without moving at all.


    But it wasn¡¯t me moving.


    It was us.


    Bobo¡¯s thoughts brushed against mine, not in words, but in impressions. Images. Feelings. Instincts.


    And suddenly¡ª


    The Beast Space I had been creating wavered.


    Like a reflection on water, ripples spread across it. The trees, the river, the fruits I had imagined¡ªthey remained, but something was changing.


    Something was guiding me.


    Bobo¡¯s desires bled into the world like ink in water.


    The river grew wider, faster¡ªnot calm and steady, but rushing, full of movement, the way he wanted it. A place to leap, to splash, to test his strength.


    The trees¡ªno, not just trees¡ªthey became something greater. More layered, more connected, roots twisting together into spiraling platforms, natural bridges crisscrossing like an endless maze in the canopy.


    A network. A kingdom.


    A place not just to live, but to conquer.


    And the fruits¡ª


    Not scattered. Strategic. Hidden. Some high, some low, forcing him to hunt for them, to earn them. A place that rewarded curiosity, agility, challenge.


    Because Bobo didn¡¯t just want to exist in his world.


    He wanted to thrive.


    I barely had time to process it before my own will responded instinctively¡ªaccepting, reinforcing, solidifying the changes.


    This wasn¡¯t just my creation anymore.


    This was ours.


    Bobo¡¯s small paws gripped my wrist, a spark of excitement running through him. His world, his instincts, his desires¡ªthey had become real.


    And in that moment, I understood.


    Harmonic Link wasn¡¯t just about making us closer.


    It was about understanding.


    I had given him a home.


    But he had made it perfect.


    The Beast Space continued to form, steady and sure. It would take time, but tonight, I had made my first steps.


    And as I lay back on my bed, Bobo nestled against me, I knew¡ª


    Tonight, we weren¡¯t just summoner and beast.


    We were partners.


    And that?


    That was worth more than anything.

 Chapter17: Bobo and Akul

    The first thing I noticed when I woke up¡ªwasn''t the sunlight.


    It was Bobo.


    Perched right on my chest, staring down at me with wide, curious eyes.


    I blinked. He blinked back.


    ¡°¡­Bobo.¡±


    Chirp.


    Then, before I could react¡ªhe pounced.


    ¡°Oof¡ª¡±


    I sat up, nearly toppling over as Bobo scrambled up to my shoulder, clinging like he belonged there.


    I exhaled. This was my life now.


    I stretched, and that¡¯s when I felt it¡ªa rush of energy surging through me.


    I stilled.


    It wasn¡¯t just normal morning refreshment. It was deeper. My mind felt¡­ clearer. Sharper. Like everything was in perfect focus.


    I glanced inward¡ªtoward my grimoire.


    It was full.


    Again.


    I had let it cultivate overnight, and now the sheer amount of energy pulsing within it made my whole body hum.


    I clenched my fist. I felt amazing.


    But before I could dwell on it¡ªBobo tugged my ear.


    I turned my head.


    He gestured toward the door.


    I sighed. ¡°Yeah, yeah, I¡¯m up.¡±


    Wherever I went, Bobo followed.


    Shower? Bobo was there. Perched on the sink, watching me like a tiny judgmental king.


    Breakfast? Bobo was there. Sitting beside my plate, waiting for scraps.


    Training? Bobo was there. Mimicking my movements like he was ready to start his own cultivation.


    By the time we sat down at the table, Lina had already noticed.


    ¡°Mommy,¡± she whispered loudly, ¡°Bobo turned into Akul¡¯s shadow.¡±


    Mother chuckled, watching as Bobo carefully copied the way I held my spoon. ¡°It seems they¡¯ve bonded quite well.¡±


    Father just smirked. ¡°That¡¯s a good thing.¡±


    I grinned¡ªbut then my expression shifted.


    I had been meaning to test something.


    A skill.


    Neural Acceleration.


    I took a slow breath, then focused.


    A pulse of energy left me, weaving itself into Bobo.


    His eyes gleamed just a little bit brighter.


    Alright. Let¡¯s try this.


    I pointed at myself. ¡°Akul.¡±


    Bobo stared.


    I pointed again. ¡°Akul.¡±


    Then, I pointed at him. ¡°Bobo.¡±


    A small pause.


    I repeated the motion.


    ¡°Akul. Bobo.¡±


    Something clicked.


    Bobo¡¯s ears twitched, his eyes flicking between my hand and my face.


    Then¡ª


    His tiny hand patted my chest.


    ¡°¡­Aou."


    I froze.


    Lina gasped. ¡°HE SAID YOUR NAME!¡±Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.


    ¡°He mimicked my name,¡± I corrected. But inside, I was stunned.


    That was fast.


    I wasn¡¯t sure if he actually understood or was just copying me.


    So I tried again.


    I pointed at myself. ¡°Akul.¡±


    Then at him. ¡°Bobo.¡±


    His little paw patted his own chest.


    ¡°¡­BoOo.¡±


    Silence.


    Then¡ª


    Mother¡¯s spoon clattered against her plate. ¡°Did he just¡ª¡±


    Father let out a slow whistle. ¡°Well. That¡¯s something.¡±


    Lina, meanwhile, was losing her mind.


    ¡°HE KNOWS HIS NAME! HE KNOWS HIS NAME! HE¡¯S A GENIUS!¡±


    I exhaled. ¡°Calm down, Lina¡ª¡±


    ¡°GENIUUUUS!¡±


    Bobo, clearly encouraged, puffed out his tiny chest.


    I couldn¡¯t help but grin.


    This was working.


    And I wasn¡¯t done yet.


    The rest of the morning, I expanded the experiment.


    First¡ªcommands.


    ¡°Up.¡±


    Bobo jumped onto the table.


    ¡°Down.¡±


    He hopped back down.


    Father arched an eyebrow. ¡°He¡¯s catching on quickly.¡±


    I smirked. ¡°We¡¯re just getting started.¡±


    Next, I had him fetch things.


    ¡°Bobo¡ªbring me that cloth.¡±


    He hesitated¡ªbut then moved. Grabbed the cloth. Brought it back.


    Every success made the little monkey more excited. He loved the challenge.


    But Father?


    Father watched.


    And then, just as I was about to continue¡ª


    He spoke.


    ¡°Akul,¡± he said, leaning forward. ¡°Do you know what makes creatures like Bobo even smarter?¡±


    I blinked. ¡°¡­What?¡±


    Father¡¯s eyes glinted.


    ¡°Puzzles.¡±


    It started simple.


    A small treat hidden under a cup.


    Bobo had to lift the cup to get it.


    Easy. He figured it out instantly.


    Then, a harder one¡ªthree cups. The treat under only one.


    Still too easy.


    Then, the real challenge.


    Father set up a small bottle of water¡ªand inside it, at the bottom, was a floating piece of fruit.


    Bobo couldn¡¯t reach it.


    He tried. Scratched at the glass. Stuck his hand inside¡ªbut the fruit was too low.


    He turned to me, confused.


    I nudged him back.


    ¡°No hints,¡± I murmured. ¡°Figure it out.¡±


    Bobo frowned.


    Then¡ªhe stared at the bottle.


    A long pause.


    Then, slowly¡ªhe grabbed a small stone.


    I held my breath.


    He dropped it inside.


    The water level rose.


    My eyes widened.


    Again¡ªhe grabbed another small object. Dropped it in.


    The fruit floated higher.


    He did it again. And again.


    Until finally¡ª


    He reached in.


    And pulled out the fruit.


    Silence.


    Lina screamed.


    ¡°HE¡¯S A SUPERVILLAIN!¡±


    I burst out laughing.


    Mother clapped. ¡°Incredible.¡±


    Even Father looked impressed.


    ¡°Well,¡± he said, shaking his head. ¡°He really is something.¡±


    Bobo, pleased with himself, chomped down on his prize.


    And me?


    I just sat there, grinning.


    This wasn¡¯t just luck.


    It wasn¡¯t coincidence.


    It was proof.


    Neural Acceleration worked.


    And with time?


    Bobo wouldn¡¯t just be strong.


    He¡¯d be brilliant.


    As my responsibility called, I was awakened, but that didn''t mean I didn''t have to work¡ªto help my father and mother take care of the other monkeys inside the enclosure.


    The enclosures were alive with noise¡ªthe usual chatter, the rustling of movement, the occasional squabble between juveniles testing their place in the hierarchy.


    I had done this a hundred times before. Feeding time was routine.


    But today?


    Today felt off.


    "Akul," Mother called, stacking another basket of food. "The enclosures can get territorial, especially when food is involved. Leave Bobo at home."


    I frowned.


    Bobo clung to my shoulder, his tiny hands gripping my tunic.


    "Will he be okay alone?"


    "He''ll be fine," she reassured. "But bringing him here? That could be dangerous. Monkeys don¡¯t like outsiders in their territory."


    I hesitated.


    Then, kneeling down, I looked Bobo in the eye.


    "Stay," I said firmly.


    Bobo tilted his head.


    I activated Neural Acceleration.


    A pulse of energy linked us.


    "Stay. Here."


    Bobo¡¯s expression flickered¡ªthen he gave a small chirp of acknowledgment.


    I smiled. "Good boy."


    And with that¡ªI left.


    The feeding went as planned¡ªat first.


    The monkeys gathered, their eyes sharp with hunger but controlled by routine. I tossed food, distributed fruits, and observed their behavior like I always did.


    Then¡ª


    A scream.


    Not a normal one.


    A raw, panicked, feral shriek.


    The air shifted.


    The monkeys around me froze.


    And then¡ªchaos.


    A wave of juveniles suddenly launched themselves out of the enclosure, their bodies a blur of fur and fury.


    I barely had time to react before they were gone.


    "What the¡ª?!"


    I ran.


    I wasn¡¯t the only one.


    The handlers turned, voices raised in confusion¡ªsomeone shouted something, but I didn¡¯t stop to listen.


    Because in the middle of the commotion¡ª


    I saw him.


    Bobo.


    And he was losing.


    The juvenile monkeys weren¡¯t just attacking him.


    They were overwhelming him.


    Bobo was tiny. Barely the size of my palm just days ago. He had grown, sure¡ªbut compared to the older juveniles?


    He was nothing.


    And they knew it.


    They piled on him.


    Teeth flashed. Claws ripped.


    A blur of fur and bodies slammed into him, knocking him down¡ªone after another, after another.


    Bobo screeched, thrashing, desperate to escape.


    But they didn¡¯t let him.


    One monkey bit his tail, yanking him back just as he tried to flee.


    Another sank its teeth into his shoulder.


    A third grabbed his leg¡ªswung him into the dirt.


    Then they pounced again.


    One after another.


    Pummeling.


    Clawing.


    Tearing.


    Bobo struggled¡ªgods, he fought.


    I was running with all my might but still i felt so patheticly slow


    I try harder.


    But it wasn¡¯t enough.


    There were too many.


    And the worst part?


    He wasn¡¯t fighting to win.


    He wasn¡¯t fighting to flee.


    He was fighting to reach me.


    His small, battered body lurched forward, paws dragging through the dirt, his golden fur stained red.


    He didn¡¯t cry for help.


    He didn¡¯t beg for mercy.


    He just kept moving.


    His eyes¡ªwild, desperate¡ªlocked onto mine.


    And in that moment¡ª


    Something inside me shattered.


    The world blurred.


    The screams faded.


    All I could see was him.


    Crawling.


    Bleeding.


    Reaching.


    And failing.


    A juvenile monkey latched onto his back, shoving him down.


    Another bit his ear, jerking his head back¡ªhard.


    Bobo screeched, his tiny limbs flailing, his body twisting, writhing, desperate to break free¡ª


    But they didn¡¯t let him.


    They were laughing.


    Not real laughter, not human laughter¡ªbut it felt like it.


    The way they pushed him back, over and over, snarling, snapping, taunting¡ª


    saw fear in his eyes.


    Real, gut-wrenching, bone-deep fear.


    I saw pain.


    I saw desperation.


    Like he was nothing.


    Like he didn¡¯t matter.


    Like he wasn¡¯t mine.


    A sharp, ringing silence stretched through my skull.


    For a single, fragile moment¡ª


    Everything stopped.


    Then¡ª


    I snapped.


    Something inside me snapped.


    My heartbeat roared in my ears.


    My vision blurred at the edges.


    I felt the grimoire at my side hum to life, reacting to my fury.


    And as the screams grew louder¡ª


    I screamed, too...

 Chapter18: Scream That Shattered the World

    A sound tore from my throat¡ªraw, primal, deafening.


    ¡°STOOOP!¡±


    It wasn¡¯t just a scream.


    It was everything.


    Fury. Fear. Desperation.


    It ripped through the chaos like a burning blade, slicing through the air, through the instincts of every single monkey in that enclosure.


    For a moment¡ª


    A fragile, breathless moment¡ª


    The world stopped.


    Then¡ª


    Terror.


    A wave of primal fear exploded outward.


    Monkeys froze mid-snarling, mid-striking. Their bodies locked. Their fur bristled. Their wide, panicked eyes flicked to me.


    And they knew.


    Something deeper than reason¡ªsomething ancient, something instinctual¡ªscreamed at them to flee.


    And they obeyed.


    Some trembled where they stood, bodies coiling inward, submitting, shaking.


    Some bolted, screeching in terror, vanishing into the trees.


    Others stayed, their bodies low, defensive¡ª but not attacking.


    Not anymore.


    Because they felt it.


    Death had entered the enclosure.


    And it had come from me.


    I didn¡¯t care.


    I was already running.


    My feet barely touched the ground as I threw myself forward, shoving past the lingering bodies, past the fear-stunned juveniles¡ª


    Straight to Bobo.


    I hit my knees beside him.


    His small body shuddered, his fur slick with blood. His chest rose and fell in weak, shallow breaths.


    Too weak.


    Too slow.


    Too¡ª


    No.


    I pulled him into my arms.


    Held him tight.Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.


    And then¡ªinstinct, desperation¡ªI activated my skill.


    Vital Surge.


    The moment the energy surged from my grimoire, I pushed everything into it.


    All of it.


    My mana, my focus, my will¡ªI didn¡¯t hold back.


    A soft, golden glow spread over his body.


    Not an instant heal.


    Not magic.


    But life.


    It seeped into him, into every broken part of him, urging his body to do what it was meant to do. To repair. To recover.


    I held him close, whispering his name, pouring my soul into keeping him here, keeping him with me.


    Then¡ª


    A rush of movement.


    A blur of people.


    Hands grabbing me, voices shouting¡ª


    My mother.


    My father.


    More hands, lifting Bobo, carrying him¡ª


    And I ran with them.


    Through the enclosure, past the stunned workers, straight toward the nursing center.


    I didn¡¯t let go.


    Didn¡¯t loosen my hold.


    Didn¡¯t stop pouring my power into him.


    His small body pressed against me, still warm, still breathing¡ª


    I clung to that.


    I clung to him.


    And as we ran, as the world blurred past¡ª


    I didn¡¯t stop whispering his name.


    Someone grabbed my shoulder.


    ¡°Akul.¡±


    I barely heard them.


    My mind was still locked in that space¡ªthat moment. The screaming. The blood. The sound of Bobo¡¯s tiny body being torn at, crushed under the weight of so many hands.


    The terror in his eyes.


    The pain.


    ¡°Akul.¡±


    The grip on my shoulder tightened.


    I blinked.


    Suddenly, the world snapped back into focus.


    The walls of the nursing center. The faint, sterile scent of medicine and herbs. The cool air brushing against my skin, so different from the stifling heat of the enclosure.


    A presence beside me.


    My mother.


    She knelt down, her warm hands firm against my arms, grounding me.


    ¡°He¡¯s going to be okay.¡±


    I barely registered the words.


    Couldn¡¯t.


    Bobo was still in my arms.


    Still too still.


    Still too¡ª


    ¡°Here, let me take him.¡±


    A new voice.


    I flinched when someone reached for him, instinct screaming at me not to let go.


    But my father¡¯s voice cut through.


    ¡°Akul.¡±


    I looked up.


    A nurse stood before me, calm, composed. She wasn¡¯t panicked. She wasn¡¯t rushing.


    Because she wasn¡¯t afraid.


    Because she knew what she was doing.


    She smiled gently. ¡°I promise, we¡¯ll take care of him.¡±


    I hesitated.


    Still, I held him tighter.


    The nurse reached out, pressing a glowing hand over Bobo¡¯s small, battered body.


    A soft, soothing light spread from her palm, flowing into him, wrapping around him like a warm embrace.


    I felt his breathing even out.


    Felt his trembling slow.


    My heart lurched.


    The nurse hummed softly, her expression one of quiet focus. ¡°His injuries look bad, but¡­ he¡¯s already healing.¡±


    I stiffened. ¡°What?¡±


    She glanced at me, intrigued. ¡°He came in like this?¡±


    I nodded, my throat tight.


    She exhaled in mild astonishment, scanning him with her glowing hands. ¡°His body¡­ it was already working to repair itself before I even started treatment.¡±


    She looked up, eyes sharp with recognition. ¡°That wasn¡¯t normal healing. You did something, didn¡¯t you?¡±


    I swallowed.


    ¡°¡­Vital Surge.¡±


    Her lips parted slightly.


    "Your skill ?"


    "Yes."


    "Healing skill?"


    I nodded again. "Yes."


    Then she nodded. ¡°That explains it.¡±


    The glow of her healing magic pulsed again, and I watched as the bruises on Bobo¡¯s body began to fade.


    Not instantly.


    Not all at once.


    But faster than they should have.


    ¡°His bones are intact,¡± she murmured. ¡°Some deep bruising, some torn muscle, but nothing permanent. He¡¯ll be weak for a few days, but with this level of natural regeneration, he¡¯ll make a full recovery.¡±


    A breath I hadn¡¯t realized I was holding rushed out of me.


    I didn¡¯t even care that I staggered.


    My mother caught me instantly.


    My father exhaled, rubbing a hand over his face. ¡°Thank the heavens.¡±


    Lina, who had been standing in the doorway, suddenly burst forward¡ªtiny arms wrapping around my leg.


    ¡°Is Bobo gonna be okay?¡± she asked, voice small.


    The nurse smiled at her.


    ¡°Yes, sweetheart. He¡¯ll be just fine.¡±


    Lina let out a breath of relief.


    And just like that¡ª


    The weight on my chest eased.


    The nurse gave me a reassuring nod. ¡°You did well, Akul.¡±


    I blinked at her.


    She smiled knowingly. ¡°Whatever you did¡­ it made all the difference.¡±


    I didn¡¯t respond.


    I couldn¡¯t.


    Because even though Bobo was safe¡ª


    Even though the worst had passed¡ª


    The image of him being attacked, beaten, thrown still burned in my mind.


    This wasn¡¯t something I would forget.


    This wasn¡¯t something I would just let go.

 Chapter 19: The Weight of Words

    The room was quiet.


    Too quiet.


    Bobo lay curled up beside me, his tiny body rising and falling in slow, steady breaths. The bandages wrapped around him stood out starkly against his golden fur.


    He was safe.


    He was healing.


    But I still felt like something inside me was cracked open.


    Mother and Father sat across from me.


    Neither of them spoke.


    They were waiting.


    Waiting for me to talk.


    ¡°¡­I don¡¯t want to.¡± My voice came out flat.


    Father nodded slightly. ¡°I understand.¡±


    Mother, though¡ªshe leaned forward. ¡°Akul¡­¡±


    I clenched my fists.


    ¡°I just¡ª¡± I exhaled sharply. ¡°Just thinking about it makes me angry.¡±


    ¡°And that¡¯s exactly why you need to talk about it.¡±


    I looked away.


    Mother¡¯s voice was firm, but gentle. ¡°If you keep it locked inside, it¡¯ll fester. You don¡¯t have to explain everything at once. Just start with what you remember.¡±


    What I remembered.


    I swallowed.


    ¡°¡­I heard screaming.¡± The words felt distant, like they weren¡¯t even mine. ¡°I was feeding the monkeys. Everything was normal. Then suddenly¡ªchaos.¡±


    I stared at the floor.


    ¡°The monkeys from the enclosure rushed toward something. I didn¡¯t know what was happening, so I ran after them.¡±


    My throat felt tight.


    ¡°And then¡­¡± My breath hitched.


    I forced myself to keep going.


    ¡°¡­Then I saw Bobo.¡±


    The memory hit me like a punch to the chest.


    The pile of bodies. The snarling, snapping jaws. The way he fought and fought¡ªnot to win, not to hurt them¡ªbut just to reach me.


    My hands curled into fists.


    ¡°After that¡­ I don¡¯t know.¡± I shook my head. ¡°Everything blurred. I don¡¯t remember anything except¡­¡±


    I trailed off.


    Mother¡¯s voice was soft. ¡°Except what?¡±


    I closed my eyes.


    ¡°¡­Except the fear.¡±


    Not mine.


    Bobo¡¯s.


    Raw, unfiltered terror poured through our bond. Desperation. Helplessness.Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings.


    I had felt it all.


    And I had been too late.


    Mother sighed. ¡°Akul¡­ this is exactly why I told you to leave Bobo at home.¡±


    I flinched.


    She wasn¡¯t scolding me.


    But her voice carried the weight of experience.


    ¡°Monkeys are social,¡± she continued, ¡°but they are also territorial. It¡¯s in their nature to protect their space¡ªto see outsiders as threats.¡±


    Her eyes softened. ¡°They weren¡¯t trying to be cruel. They were just following instinct.¡±


    I knew that.


    I knew that.


    It didn¡¯t make the memory any less vivid.


    ¡°It still doesn¡¯t make it right,¡± I muttered.


    ¡°No,¡± Father agreed. ¡°But it makes it understandable.¡±


    I looked up.


    He leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. ¡°Put yourself in their position.¡±


    I frowned.


    ¡°You wake up one day,¡± he continued, ¡°and suddenly, a stranger is in your home. A stranger you don¡¯t know, a stranger who doesn¡¯t belong there. And that stranger is moving toward something you consider precious.¡±


    His eyes were steady.


    ¡°What would you do?¡±


    My breath caught.


    ¡°I wouldn¡¯t¡ª¡±


    I hesitated.


    Father waited.


    I exhaled slowly.


    ¡°¡­I¡¯d fight,¡± I admitted. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t let them get close.¡±


    Father nodded. ¡°Exactly.¡±


    A long silence stretched between us.


    Mother¡¯s voice was quieter now. ¡°It wasn¡¯t malice, Akul. It was survival.¡±


    I swallowed hard.


    Survival.


    I knew that. I did.


    But that didn¡¯t erase what I saw.


    What I felt.


    ¡°¡­I¡¯m not going to go crazy and start attacking the other monkeys,¡± I muttered.


    Father gave me a knowing look. ¡°I know.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s just¡­¡± My eyes flickered to Bobo¡¯s sleeping form.


    ¡°¡­It hurts,¡± I finally admitted. ¡°It really hurts.¡±


    Father sighed.


    And then¡ª


    He smiled.


    ¡°Good,¡± he said simply.


    I blinked.


    He leaned back, arms crossed. ¡°It hurts because you care.¡±


    I didn¡¯t respond.


    Didn¡¯t know how to respond.


    But as I looked down at Bobo¡ªat the tiny creature who had risked everything to reach me¡ª


    I knew he was right.


    ¡°Come, my son.¡±


    Father¡¯s voice was calm, steady. ¡°Let¡¯s go home.¡±


    I looked up.


    The tension in my shoulders hadn¡¯t left, but I nodded. Slowly, carefully, I cradled Bobo in my arms and stood up.


    The nurses had done all they could. He was out of danger now¡ªhis breathing was steady, his body no longer trembling with pain. But he was still weak.


    Still hurt.


    And I wasn¡¯t going to leave him alone for even a second.


    As we stepped out of the nursing center, the afternoon sun was already dipping lower in the sky. The streets were quieter now, the rush of the morning fading into the lull of evening.


    Bobo¡¯s small body pressed against my chest, warm but fragile. His fur, once sleek and full, was ruffled and uneven where the bandages wrapped around him.


    I kept my grip gentle, but firm.


    I could still feel the faint thrum of our bond¡ªthe connection between us pulsing weakly.


    And I poured everything I had into it.


    Skill: Vital Surge¡ªActive.


    I let the energy flow, guiding it carefully through him. His wounds weren¡¯t deep, but his body was exhausted. His cells needed time to repair, his muscles time to rebuild.


    I wouldn¡¯t let him recover alone.


    Not after what happened.


    A small tug at my sleeve made me pause.


    Lina.


    She stood beside me, looking up at Bobo with wide, watery eyes.


    ¡°Is he gonna be okay?¡±


    Her tiny fingers curled into my tunic, gripping it tightly.


    I exhaled. ¡°Yeah.¡±


    She hesitated. Then¡ª


    Gently, carefully¡ªshe reached up and patted Bobo¡¯s head.


    ¡°Be strong, Bobo,¡± she whispered.


    The monkey didn¡¯t move much, but his tail twitched slightly in response.


    Lina¡¯s face lit up. ¡°He¡¯s still alive!¡±


    I sighed. ¡°Of course he¡¯s still alive, Lina.¡±


    ¡°But he moved!¡± She beamed, patting him again.


    A faint chuckle slipped from my lips. Even in moments like this, she still found ways to make things feel lighter.


    Father glanced back at us. ¡°Come on. We¡¯re almost home.¡±


    The rest of the walk was quiet.


    By the time we stepped inside, the house felt warmer than usual. Or maybe that was just me.


    I went straight to my room, settling onto my bed with Bobo still in my arms.


    I didn¡¯t let go.


    I didn¡¯t even think about letting go.


    Instead, I adjusted his position carefully, making sure he was comfortable.


    Then¡ª


    Skill: Neural Acceleration¡ªActive.


    I didn¡¯t know if it would help. I didn¡¯t know if it would make a difference.


    But I wanted him to feel it.


    To know that I was here.


    That he wasn¡¯t alone.


    Hours passed.


    I didn¡¯t move.


    Didn¡¯t eat.


    Didn¡¯t sleep.


    I just sat there, pouring my energy, my focus, my mana into him.


    Mother came in once to check on me. She didn¡¯t say anything¡ªjust placed a small bowl of food on my desk and left quietly.


    Father came in later. He stood at the doorway, watching for a long moment.


    Then, finally¡ª


    ¡°You did well today, my son.¡±


    I didn¡¯t look up. ¡°It doesn¡¯t feel like it.¡±


    Silence.


    Then a hand rested on my head.


    ¡°Sometimes, doing well doesn¡¯t mean winning,¡± Father said. ¡°It just means doing what you can.¡±


    I swallowed hard.


    He didn¡¯t stay long. Just gave my shoulder a squeeze before stepping out.


    The night stretched on.


    Bobo¡¯s breathing grew steadier. His heartbeat, stronger.


    Slowly, his tiny fingers curled against my sleeve, holding onto me.


    I closed my eyes.


    And for the first time since everything happened¡ª


    I let myself breathe.

 Chapter 20: Bobo’s Resolve

    The days blurred together.


    I barely left the house.


    The enclosure? I didn¡¯t step foot near it.


    I told myself it was because Bobo still needed me. That his recovery came first, that my focus had to be on him, on making sure he got better. But deep down, I knew the truth.


    I wasn¡¯t ready.


    Not to see the other monkeys. Not to walk through the place where it happened.


    Not yet.


    So I stayed home, pouring everything I had into Bobo¡¯s recovery.


    Every night, I let my grimoire cultivate, absorbing mana, refining itself. And every day, I used that mana to heal, strengthen, and enhance Bobo. I cycled through all my skills¡ªAdaptive Growth Factor, Neural Acceleration, Vital Surge. Everything except Alpha Pheromones.


    That one, I didn¡¯t touch.


    Bobo wasn¡¯t something to control.


    He was my partner.


    And yet¡­


    Something was different.


    Even after his wounds were gone, after his body was fully healed, I couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that something had shifted.


    At first, I thought it was just my own paranoia. I kept checking him, overanalyzing every movement, making sure he wasn¡¯t still hurting. But it wasn¡¯t just that.


    Bobo wasn¡¯t as playful as before.


    He still clung to me, still followed me everywhere. But sometimes¡ªjust sometimes¡ªI¡¯d find him sitting alone, quiet.


    Like he was thinking.


    But was he?


    Did monkeys even do that?


    I didn¡¯t know.


    But I knew that whatever had changed in him¡­ it wasn¡¯t something I could undo.


    And then¡ªone day¡ªI found him training.


    At first, I thought he was just playing. He ran around the yard, leaping onto the wooden beams near the house, swinging from one to another.


    Then¡ªhe dropped down and grabbed a rock.


    A large one.


    Bigger than him.


    I frowned, stepping forward. ¡°Bobo?¡±


    He grunted, gripping the stone tightly. His muscles tensed as he tried to lift it. His little body trembled with effort.


    He couldn¡¯t.


    I moved to stop him, placing a hand on his back. ¡°Hey, that¡¯s too¡ª¡±


    He pushed me away.


    Not violently. Not aggressively.


    Just¡­ firmly.


    I blinked.


    Bobo let out a small growl of frustration and tried again.


    I could see it in his eyes.


    He wasn¡¯t just playing.If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it.


    He was trying.


    Trying to be stronger.


    My stomach twisted. ¡°Bobo¡­?¡±


    Again, he failed.


    Again, he tried.


    Again, he failed.


    And then¡ªhe stopped trying to lift it.


    And started punching it.


    My chest tightened.


    The way he struck it¡ªagain, and again, and again¡ªit wasn¡¯t just training.


    It was frustration.


    It was something deeper.


    Something raw.


    I swallowed hard. ¡°Bobo, stop¡ª¡±


    He didn¡¯t.


    His little fists kept slamming into the stone, his teeth clenched, his breath ragged.


    This wasn¡¯t a game.


    This wasn¡¯t just play.


    This was a decision.


    Bobo wanted to be stronger.


    Bobo didn¡¯t want to lose again.


    Bobo didn¡¯t want to feel fear again.


    Bobo didn¡¯t want to be weak again.


    I felt something in my chest twist painfully.


    ¡°¡­I understand,¡± I murmured.


    Bobo stopped.


    His breathing was heavy. His little hands curled into fists, dirt and dust clinging to his fur.


    Slowly, he turned to look at me.


    And I saw it.


    The same thing I felt that day.


    The same burning, unshakable, desperate need¡ª


    To never let it happen again.


    I stepped closer, kneeling beside him.


    I placed a hand on his head.


    ¡°If you want to be stronger¡­¡± My voice was quiet, steady.


    ¡°I¡¯ll help you.¡±


    Bobo didn¡¯t move.


    Then, slowly¡ªhe nodded.


    Bobo wanted to train.


    Not play. Not climb trees for fun. Not wrestle like before.


    He wanted to train.


    And I had no idea what to do about it.


    For the past few days, I watched him. I saw how he moved¡ªhow he carried himself differently. His energy was still there, but it was sharper now. Focused.


    He wasn¡¯t just running around anymore. He was testing himself.


    Jumping higher, landing harder. Gripping branches longer than before.


    Lifting rocks¡ªway too big for him¡ªwith trembling arms, over and over, until his body gave out.


    During his training, I kept using my skills to help him grow, recover, and learn.


    Slowly, he started to change.


    Even his posture was changing. He sat still more often, his brows furrowed in a way that made me swear he was thinking.


    And then, one morning, I saw him do something that made my stomach twist.


    Again.


    He stood in front of a boulder, clenched his tiny fists¡ª


    And started punching it.


    Again.


    And again.


    And again.


    Until his knuckles turned red, until his little body wavered from exhaustion.


    I rushed over, grabbing him before he could hurt himself.


    "Bobo! Stop!"


    He wriggled in my grip, shaking his head, making small, frustrated noises.


    He wasn¡¯t just pushing himself.


    He was angry.


    I knew why.


    I knew exactly why.


    And that was the moment I realized¡ªthis wasn¡¯t something I could just do alone.


    Bobo needed to get stronger. But I needed guidance.


    So I went to the only person I trusted for guidance.


    I went to my father.


    He listened quietly as I explained, arms crossed, face unreadable.


    When I finished, he let out a small hum.


    "Isn¡¯t Bobo a little too young to train?"


    I hesitated. "I thought so too¡­ but he doesn¡¯t."


    That made him pause.


    His gaze softened just slightly.


    "Every creature finds their own path," he murmured. "And if Bobo has already chosen his¡­ then we should respect that."


    A long silence stretched between us. Then¡ª


    "Alright," he said, nodding. "I know someone who can help."


    I blinked. "You do?"


    He smirked.


    "Who do you think brought you that monkey in the first place?"


    It hit me instantly.


    "Rhyzar?"


    Rhyzar didn¡¯t make us wait long.


    That evening, he arrived at our home, sharp-eyed as ever, his gaze flicking between me and Bobo with quiet amusement.


    "So, the little guy wants to get strong, huh?"


    I nodded. "Yeah."


    He studied Bobo for a moment, then grinned.


    "Good."


    And without another word¡ªhe summoned his grimoire.


    It flickered into existence, dark leather crackling with mana.


    Then¡ª


    A brilliant golden light burst forth.


    The air trembled. The ground felt heavier.


    And then I saw it.


    A massive figure emerged from the light.


    My breath caught.


    A grimoire?


    Was he also a Raiven?


    Bobo stiffened.


    The creature before us was a golden body monkey.


    But not like Bobo.


    This one towered over us, nearly as tall as Rhyzar himself. Its thick frame pulsed with raw strength¡ªevery muscle honed, every movement precise. Its golden fur shimmered under the moonlight, but its presence wasn¡¯t just majestic.


    It was powerful.


    Bobo didn¡¯t move.


    Didn¡¯t blink.


    Didn¡¯t breathe.


    His tiny hands gripped my sleeve so tight it hurt.


    Rhyzar watched him, then chuckled.


    "Yeah," he said, smirking. "This is what you¡¯ll become."


    Bobo let out a tiny, almost soundless exhale.


    I didn¡¯t need our bond to know what he was feeling.


    He wasn¡¯t afraid.


    He wasn¡¯t intimidated.


    He was entranced.


    "This guy," Rhyzar gestured to his beast, "has been through several evolutions already. That¡¯s why he¡¯s this big. But your Bobo?" He tilted his head. "He¡¯s still in his first stage. He hasn¡¯t evolved even once yet."


    I swallowed, looking at my tiny companion.


    "Then¡­ when he reaches maturity, how tall will he be?"


    Rhyzar hummed, thinking. "If he follows the normal growth patterns, he¡¯ll be around Lina¡¯s height."


    I blinked.


    Lina. My five-year-old sister.


    That small?


    Bobo seemed to deflate a little.


    But then¡ª


    Rhyzar grinned.


    "That¡¯s if he follows normal growth patterns."


    His eyes gleamed.


    "But Bobo doesn¡¯t seem normal to me."


    I glanced down at my companion again.


    His tiny hands had relaxed. But his eyes? They burned.


    Admiration.


    Determination.


    Hunger.


    He wanted this.


    He needed this.


    And I wasn¡¯t going to let him do it alone.


    I turned to Rhyzar, setting my jaw.


    "When do we start?"


    Rhyzar¡¯s smirk widened.


    "Right now."

 Chapter 21: Baptism by Combat

    The first blow came faster than I expected.


    A blur of motion¡ªthen a thunderous impact.


    Bobo went flying.


    He hit the ground hard, rolling through the dirt, small rocks scraping his fur. His tiny frame trembled as he struggled to stand. But before he could rise¡ª


    Another blow.


    A heavy, deliberate kick to the ribs sent him skidding backward, dust rising in his wake.


    I took a sharp step forward, heart hammering. ¡°Hey¡ª¡±


    A hand clamped onto my shoulder.


    I turned¡ªRhyzar¡¯s grip was firm, his gaze steady. ¡°Stay put.¡±


    ¡°But¡ª¡±


    "This is how they learn," he said simply. "Your companion is a physical type, and the golden body monkeys are more resilient than most. It looked bad, but he''s molding and tempering the little guy."


    My nails dug into my palms, every instinct screaming at me to move¡ªto stop this. But I didn¡¯t.


    Bobo shook, gasping, but he still stood.


    His tiny body was covered in dust, his fur ruffled, but his eyes¡ªhis eyes burned.


    Rhyzar¡¯s Warforged Golden Ape¡ªa towering, metal-hardened beast nearly three meters tall¡ªstared down at him, unmoved, unimpressed. Its golden fur gleamed under the morning sun, dense and thick like woven steel. Its muscles rippled with each movement, every step deliberate, controlled, unshaken.


    Compared to it¡ªBobo looked fragile.


    Weak.


    I swallowed hard.


    This didn''t look like training.


    This was punishment.


    But Bobo didn¡¯t quit.


    He wiped the blood from his mouth and charged.


    The Warforged Golden Ape didn¡¯t even move.


    It let Bobo throw the first punch.


    A small fist, covered in dust and determination, slammed into its leg.


    Nothing.


    The larger ape didn¡¯t even flinch.


    Then¡ª


    A backhand strike.


    Faster than I could track.


    BAM!


    Bobo was on the ground again.


    ¡°Damn it¡­¡± I whispered.


    Rhyzar crossed his arms, watching. ¡°Good.¡±


    ¡°Good?!¡± I turned to him, incredulous. ¡°He¡¯s getting beaten to a pulp!¡±


    ¡°And yet, he stands.¡±


    Rhyzar''s eyes seemed to focus, and his gaze sharpened.


    "Do you know what the biggest drawback of this race is? Their laziness and lack of motivation despite their great potential. Bobo is a good seed; he has that fire in him."


    I snapped back toward Bobo¡ª


    And my breath caught.


    Because he was standing.


    Shaking, wobbling, bruised¡ªbut standing.


    His tail flicked. His fingers curled into fists. His legs trembled, but his eyes¡­


    His eyes weren¡¯t afraid.


    They were burning.


    Determined.


    ¡°He¡¯s getting it,¡± Rhyzar muttered, watching with quiet satisfaction.


    I exhaled, forcing myself to trust the process.


    This wasn¡¯t cruelty.


    This was forging something greater.


    Rhyzar¡¯s voice cut through the air.


    ¡°Physical types grow through two things¡ªpushing beyond limits and recovery. That¡¯s it. That¡¯s the only cycle that matters.¡±


    Bobo charged again.


    Another blow.


    Another hit.


    Another fall.


    But each time¡ªhe got up.


    Over and over and over.


    I don''t know what was driving him this far, maybe the desire to be strong? Or the aspiration to be like the Warforged Ape?


    The answer I didn''t know, but the first lesson of battle wasn''t about fighting.Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site.


    It was about endurance; it was about resilience.


    Rhyzar nodded. ¡°Your job as a summoner isn¡¯t to coddle. It¡¯s to push.¡±


    I gritted my teeth. I knew that. I KNEW that.


    But knowing and watching were two different things.


    Minutes passed.


    Bobo was breathing hard, his body sluggish, his legs unsteady.


    Finally, the Warforged Golden Ape stopped.


    It tilted its head, scanning him.


    Then¡ª


    It grunted.


    Not mockery.


    Not amusement.


    It was recognition.


    Bobo had earned something.


    And then, just as deliberately, the Warforged Golden Ape turned away.


    Training was over.


    Bobo collapsed.


    I rushed forward, sliding to my knees.


    He was exhausted, bruised, battered¡ªbut alive.


    I exhaled, pressing a hand against his fur, activating my recovery skill.


    Soft warmth flowed through my fingertips, mana surging through his body, accelerating the healing process.


    Rhyzar came closer and observed what I was doing.


    "I see your healing is unlike other magic, which is good. You should not use magic to heal him after training; it will hinder the body''s adaptation, but what you are doing seems fine."


    I looked at him, taking in his teachings and remembering them for later.


    Then my attention went back to Bobo.


    His breathing evened out.


    His fingers twitched.


    And then, weakly¡ª


    He grinned.


    A breath of laughter escaped me.


    ¡°You¡¯re crazy,¡± I muttered.


    Bobo let out a tired chirp.


    I felt something stir in my chest.


    Pride.


    This wasn¡¯t just about strength.


    This was about never staying down.


    This was about breaking past limits.


    This was just the beginning.


    Rhyzar crouched beside me, studying Bobo for a long moment before speaking.


    ¡°If you think this was hard,¡± he murmured, voice steady, ¡°you¡¯re not ready for what¡¯s coming.¡±


    I swallowed.


    ¡°This is just basic conditioning,¡± he continued. ¡°The real training¡ªthe real battles¡ªare a hundred times worse. If you can¡¯t handle this, you¡¯ll never survive the Abyssal Tower¡­ you¡¯ll never free your father, you¡¯ll never survive the Raven family¡¯s might.¡±


    His eyes met mine.


    ¡°This is not a game, son. Are you really ready to push that far?¡±


    ¡°To push ''him'' that far, too?¡±


    A beat of silence.


    I looked at Bobo.


    The answer was already there.


    I exhaled.


    Then, I nodded.


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    Rhyzar grinned. ¡°Good.¡±


    Because this?


    This was only the first step.


    Bobo was already sore from the brutal sparring session earlier, but Rhyzar wasn¡¯t done.


    ¡°Training doesn¡¯t end with battle,¡± he said, arms crossed. ¡°It ends with refinement.¡±


    The Warforged Golden Ape stepped forward.


    It didn¡¯t attack this time.


    Instead, it moved.


    And instantly¡ªI knew this wasn¡¯t just some simple exercise.


    Each step, each shift of its muscles, each roll of its shoulders¡ªwas deliberate.


    Slow. Controlled.


    Its arms twisted in a way that looked unnatural at first, but then I saw it¡ªflexibility meeting raw power. A single stance shifted from a defensive guard into an explosive strike, then back into perfect balance.


    Even its tail was involved, flicking at precise angles, maintaining equilibrium.


    Bobo watched, entranced.


    ¡°These movements¡­¡± I murmured.


    ¡°They¡¯re a foundation,¡± Rhyzar said. ¡°For strength, for speed, for combat flow. Every physical-type beast needs them.¡±


    The Warforged Golden Ape finished its sequence and stood tall, composed, unwavering.


    Then it grunted¡ªand gestured for Bobo to try.


    Bobo¡¯s ears twitched. He stepped forward, rolling his shoulders, mimicking the stance.


    Then¡ª


    He moved.


    And instantly, I could tell¡ªit wasn¡¯t going to be easy.


    His limbs were too short. His balance wavered. The twist in his torso crumpled halfway through, sending him stumbling¡ªbarely catching himself before he hit the dirt.


    He stumbled.


    Tried again.


    Failed again.


    But he didn¡¯t quit.


    I could see it¡ªthe burning desire in his eyes.


    He wanted to learn this.


    He wanted to master this.


    He tried a third time, straining his muscles, pushing his body beyond what it had ever done before.


    The movements were unforgiving.


    Every muscle had to be precise.


    Even the tail positioning was critical. A slight misalignment meant the entire sequence collapsed.


    I clenched my fists.


    This wasn¡¯t just training.


    This was sculpting a warrior.


    And I wasn¡¯t just going to stand by and watch.


    I stepped forward.


    Bobo glanced at me, breathing hard.


    ¡°You¡¯re doing good,¡± I said. ¡°But I think I can help.¡±


    I summoned my grimoire.


    The golden text shimmered, hovering beside me, already absorbing mana from the surroundings.


    I reached inward¡ªtoward my skills.


    Neural Acceleration.


    A surge of energy flowed through me, into Bobo. His awareness sharpened, his body reacting faster.


    He tried the movement again.


    This time, he adjusted mid-motion, catching the flaw before he fell.


    I grinned.


    Then¡ªI layered another skill.


    Adaptive Growth Factor.


    His muscles tensed, then relaxed, absorbing the strain, reinforcing the micro-tears from training, rebuilding stronger.


    I saw it.


    His stance was already better than before.


    But I wasn¡¯t done.


    Vital Surge.


    Warm energy pulsed into him, replenishing the exhaustion clawing at his body.


    Bobo exhaled sharply¡ªthen moved again.


    Better. Smoother.


    The Warforged Golden Ape watched, silent.


    Rhyzar narrowed his eyes.


    ¡°You¡¯re pushing all three skills at once?¡±


    I nodded. ¡°I have to.¡±


    He smirked. ¡°That¡¯s the spirit.¡±


    I ignored him, focusing everything on Bobo.


    I felt it¡ªthe way my mana cycled through my grimoire, absorbing energy from the surroundings, feeding it straight into him.


    This time, I did not have direct contact with Bobo, so the level of effect my trait had was quite a few steps lower than normal, but it still was extremely beneficial.


    But, this was my role.


    This was how I would make him stronger.


    Later that night, after training with the Warforged Golden Ape, Bobo and I trained alone in our room.


    I wanted to see just how far I could push him.


    The movements that once seemed impossible?


    They were still hard.


    But Bobo wasn¡¯t failing anymore.


    He was adjusting.


    He was learning.


    Bobo¡¯s breath was ragged. His fur was damp with sweat, his body trembling from exhaustion.


    But he refused to stop.


    I could see it¡ªthe unshakable fire in his eyes.


    He had failed. He had stumbled. He had fallen.


    And yet¡ª


    He kept going.


    Every movement was sharper.


    Every correction was instinctual.


    He was learning faster than ever before.


    But something was missing.


    Something more.


    I clenched my fists.


    I could push him further.


    I summoned my grimoire.


    The black pages flashed open, absorbing mana from the room, the very air buzzing with energy.


    I activated my skills¡ª


    Neural Acceleration.


    His mind clicked into overdrive, processing every movement twice as fast.


    Adaptive Growth Factor.


    His body absorbed the punishment, growing denser, tougher, stronger.


    Vital Surge.


    The strain on his muscles eased, letting him last longer, push harder.


    And then¡ª


    I took a breath.


    And activated Adrenaline Flow.


    The effect was instantaneous.


    Bobo¡¯s eyes widened. His pupils dilated. His heart pounded faster, harder.


    Every muscle coiled like a spring, primed to explode.


    His stance shifted¡ªhis whole body reacting before his mind could even process.


    And then¡ª


    He vanished.


    A golden blur tore through the air, faster than my eyes could track.


    One second, he was standing still¡ª


    The next, he was across the room.


    I blinked.


    What¡­?


    Bobo twitched. His body shuddered, vibrating with raw force.


    The energy I had been feeding into him¡ªit wasn¡¯t just circulating anymore.


    It was multiplying.


    Doubling. Tripling.


    A rapid surge of power pulsed through his muscles.


    He took another step¡ªand shot forward.


    I barely managed to track him.


    His movements were erratic at first, uncontrolled bursts of speed and strength, his own body struggling to keep up.


    But then¡ª


    He adjusted.


    He adapted.


    And he stabilized.


    His breathing evened out.


    His stance settled.


    And for the first time, I saw it¡ª


    A New Power Awakens.


    The primal, awakened power of a Golden Body Monkey.


    ©¥©¥©¥ ¡ó ©¥©¥©¥


    New Skill Unlocked: Primal Surge


    Effect: Temporarily multiplies strength and speed for a short duration. The boost stacks continuously as energy circulates, increasing with momentum.


    ©¥©¥©¥ ¡ó ©¥©¥©¥


    A skill that grows stronger the longer he moves.


    A skill that builds momentum endlessly.


    Wait¡ªthis wasn¡¯t the skill he was supposed to unlock!


    I stared.


    Bobo grinned.


    And then¡ªhe launched forward, faster than ever before.

 Chapter 22: Returning to the Enclosure. A Decision Made

    "I want to go back to the enclosure."


    The words left my mouth before I could second-guess them.


    Silence stretched across the room.


    Mother¡¯s hands paused mid-motion over the dishes, her eyes flicking toward me. My father, seated across the table, exhaled slowly, his fingers drumming against the wood.


    Lina, chewing on a piece of fruit, glanced up, blinking. "Why?" she asked.


    I swallowed. "Because I have to."


    Mother set the dish down. "Akul, you don¡¯t have to rush¡ª"


    "I know," I cut in. "But I want to."


    Her lips pressed together.


    "You don¡¯t have to go alone," she said after a moment. "I¡¯ll come with you."


    I shook my head. "No, Mom, I¡ª"


    She raised a hand. "It¡¯s not up for debate. I¡¯ll be there to help you, to make sure you¡ª"


    Father chuckled. "Leina, let the boy go."


    Mother shot him a glare. "Hector, he¡¯s¡ª"


    "He¡¯s ready," Father said simply.


    She turned back to me, uncertainty flickering across her face. "Akul¡­"


    I softened. "Mom, I appreciate it, really. But I need to do this on my own."


    Her jaw tensed like she wanted to argue, but after a long pause, she sighed.


    "Fine," she relented. "But if anything happens¡ª


    "I¡¯ll handle it," I assured her.


    Father grinned. "That¡¯s my boy."


    Mother, still reluctant, finally nodded. "Alright," she said. "But be careful."


    I nodded back.


    Careful.


    I was sure I would not let "That" repeat ever again.


    The path to the enclosure felt longer than before.


    Bobo clung tightly to my shoulder, his grip firm, his body tense.


    I ran a hand over his fur. "You okay?"


    He didn¡¯t chirp. He just stared ahead.


    I understood.


    The last time we were here¡­If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    I clenched my fists.


    I forced my feet to keep moving.


    The entrance loomed ahead, the wooden gates slightly ajar. I could already hear the familiar calls of the monkeys inside.


    A part of me wanted to turn around.


    But I didn¡¯t.


    I told Bobo to go inside my tunic for now.


    Bobo shifted beneath my tunic, his small body pressed against my chest. I could feel his tiny heartbeat, the warmth of his fur, the slight twitch of his tail.


    He was nervous.


    So was I.


    I ran a hand over the fabric, as if reassuring him. "Just stay put for now, alright?"


    He didn¡¯t make a sound.


    I understood.


    The last time we were here¡­


    I didn''t want to let my mind linger on it.


    I forced my feet forward.


    The entrance loomed ahead, the wooden gates slightly ajar. The familiar sounds of monkeys filled the air.


    Then¡ª


    I stepped through.


    The moment I did¡ª


    A wave of memories crashed into me.


    The screams.


    The growls.


    The chaos.


    Bobo, tiny and desperate, buried under a swarm of biting, clawing bodies.


    Blood staining the dirt.


    I froze.


    Bobo tensed against me.


    For a moment, my breath felt tight, my chest constricting like a vice.


    Then¡ª


    Movement.


    A flicker of motion from the trees.


    A group of monkeys leaped down.


    Rushing toward me.


    I didn¡¯t move.


    I should have.


    But I didn''t.


    Instead¡ª


    I looked.


    They stopped.


    I tensed.


    They sniffed.


    Their movements hesitated.


    Just a foot away.


    Their ears twitched, nostrils flaring as they took in my scent again.


    I held my breath.


    And then¡ª


    They pounced.


    But in joy.


    The hesitation vanished, replaced by the same rough, playful energy they always had.


    They chomped at me, nudged my arms, tugged my sleeves¡ªjust like before.


    Like nothing had changed.


    Like it was just another day, like I had never left.


    A lump formed in my throat.


    I didn¡¯t realize how much I had been afraid to come back.


    Afraid of what? I couldn''t even tell.


    Maybe afraid that they would attack. Afraid that I had lost them.


    But, They still saw me as their own.


    I laughed.


    And then¡ª


    Bobo.


    Their eyes flicked over me¡ªthen darted to the bundle under my tunic.


    Some were already curious trying to see what it was.


    Bobo stiffened.


    I swallowed.


    It was time.


    Slowly, carefully, I lifted the fabric.


    Bobo¡¯s tiny head peeked out, his ears twitching, his round eyes wide and alert.


    The air shifted.


    The monkeys went still.


    I took a deep breath¡ª


    And then, gently, I lifted Bobo into my hands.


    Holding him securely, I raised him just slightly¡ª


    A presentation. A careful introduction.


    A silent statement.


    This is Bobo. He is mine. He is family.


    I held my breath.


    The monkeys stared.


    The older ones froze.


    The younger ones leaned forward slightly, ears perked.


    Bobo¡¯s small fingers clung to me, uncertain.


    Then¡ª


    The first reaction came.


    A sharp, startled chirp from one of the juveniles.


    Then another.


    A ripple of shock.


    They watched.


    They analyzed.


    One of them took a slow step forward.


    Bobo tensed.


    My grip tightened slightly, just in case¡ª


    He sniffed the air.


    Then¡ª


    He reached out.


    A strike? A bite?


    My heart raced up.


    Tap.


    A gentle tap.


    Like an introduction.


    Like an apology.


    Bobo hesitated.


    Then¡ª


    He reached back.


    A small, slow exchange.


    And just like that¡ª


    The tension broke.


    The monkeys swarmed him.


    Not to attack.


    But to accept.


    They chomped, rolled, playfully tackled¡ªjust like they had always done with me.


    Bobo yelped in surprise¡ªthen chirped in response.


    I felt the tightness in my chest finally ease.


    They didn¡¯t hate him.


    They never did.


    I should have introduced him properly from the start.


    I clenched my jaw.


    This was my fault.


    Bobo had tried to come to me.


    And because I had left him alone¡ªbecause I hadn¡¯t thought ahead¡ª


    He had nearly been torn apart.


    I exhaled.


    This moment didn¡¯t erase what had happened.


    But at least¡­


    It made it a little lighter.


    I scratched the back of my neck, watching as Bobo wrestled with the others, a small smile forming on my lips.


    This was how it should have been from the start.


    This was what I should have done.


    I would make sure that from now on¡ª


    I got it right.

 Chapter 23: A Month of Growth & A Friend’s Awakening

    A Month Passed¡­


    A lot had changed.


    And I meant a lot.


    Bobo, once small enough to fit in my palm, had tripled in size. He now stood as tall as a young fox, his limbs leaner, his golden fur sleeker, richer, thicker. His once rounded features had sharpened ever so slightly, giving him the look of a real warrior.


    And it wasn¡¯t just his appearance.


    Training with Rhyzar¡¯s Warforged Golden Ape had transformed him.


    At first, Bobo couldn¡¯t even land a scratch. Every attack, every strike, every movement¡ªRhyzar¡¯s beast countered it all.


    But Bobo didn¡¯t give up.


    He adapted.


    He learned.


    The way he moved in combat became sharper. Smarter. More refined. The monkey that had once played and tumbled through life now stood with his back straight, his stance firm, his eyes burning with purpose.


    A warrior¡¯s heart.


    The enclosure had noticed.


    A month ago, Bobo was one of the smallest and weakest among the juveniles.


    Now?


    Now, he stood among them as an equal in size¡ªyet a superior in strength.


    They respected him.


    They idolized him.


    To them, he wasn¡¯t just another monkey. He was legendary.


    The once playful jabs and small dominance tests? Gone.


    Instead, they watched him with curiosity and admiration.


    Even the older ones had started paying attention.


    And yet¡ª


    Even after all this growth, all this progress¡­


    Bobo still couldn¡¯t land a scratch on Rhyzar¡¯s ape.


    I clenched my fists just thinking about it.


    We still had a long way to go.


    But today wasn¡¯t about Bobo.


    Today was about Chia.


    She had awakened.


    The moment I heard, I didn¡¯t waste time.


    I was already heading toward her house, a familiar path through the bustling streets.


    Lina tagged along, skipping beside me, excited beyond belief.


    ¡°She¡¯s going to be so cool now,¡± she chattered. ¡°Chia was already strong, but now she¡¯s going to be, like, super strong, right?¡±


    I smirked. ¡°I don¡¯t know. We¡¯ll see.¡±


    Bobo sat perched on my shoulder, as he always did now, his tail curling lazily around my neck.


    I could tell he was curious too.


    Chia was many things¡ªbold yet shy, wild yet endearing, clumsy yet sharp when it mattered.


    And now, she was a summoner.


    The moment I stepped inside, I knew I had walked into an ambush.


    Because before I even got a chance to speak¡ª


    ¡°Ohhh, look who¡¯s here!¡±


    ¡°The prince has arrived!¡±


    ¡°Chia, your knight has come for you!¡±


    I blinked.


    Chia froze.


    Then¡ª


    She turned red.If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement.


    Like, bright, volcanic eruption, boiling red.


    I groaned. ¡°Seriously?¡±


    The group of kids snickered.


    Chia, who had been standing proudly just a second ago, now stammered, waved her arms, and looked like she wanted to run.


    ¡°S-Shut up, you idiots!¡± she yelled, voice cracking. ¡°It¡¯s not like that!¡±


    Someone gasped dramatically. ¡°Ohhh, she¡¯s stuttering!¡±


    Another nodded solemnly. ¡°That means it¡¯s totally like that.¡±


    I sighed. ¡°You guys have way too much free time.¡±


    ¡°Oh, come on, Akul,¡± one of them grinned. ¡°You wouldn¡¯t be here first thing if she wasn¡¯t special to you.¡±


    Chia made a noise that wasn¡¯t human.


    I sighed, rubbing my temple. ¡°I came to see her artifact.¡±


    ¡°Ohhh,¡± someone dragged out the word. ¡°Is that what you call it?¡±


    More laughter.


    Chia looked like she was about to explode.


    Lina, on the other hand, just giggled, entirely enjoying the chaos.


    Bobo, completely unbothered, yawned.


    After a minute of torment, someone finally said, ¡°Alright, alright, let the poor girl breathe. Show him your artifact, Chia.¡±


    Chia glared at them all, still fuming. But after a moment, she took a breath, straightened her back¡ª


    And lifted her hand.


    I had seen plenty of artifacts.


    I had seen my father¡¯s. I had seen Rhyzar¡¯s. I had even awakened my own.


    But Chia¡¯s artifact¡­


    It was completely, unapologetically, ridiculously her.


    The moment she lifted her hands, a soft puff of golden mana flickered in the air¡ª


    And then, a floating box of sweets appeared.


    Not just any box.


    It was pastel pink, round, with tiny golden embellishments.


    A small ribbon sat neatly on top, and when the lid lifted slightly, an intoxicating scent of warm caramel and vanilla filled the air.


    I blinked.


    ¡°¡­So you really made a box of sweets.¡±


    Chia huffed. ¡°It¡¯s an artifact! Not just a box of sweets!¡±


    I smirked. ¡°Right. My bad.¡±


    She crossed her arms. ¡°You don¡¯t get to judge me! Yours is just a floating book!¡±


    I chuckled. ¡°Fair.¡±


    But as my eyes drifted toward her artifact again, something stood out.


    It was¡­ faint.


    Fainter than mine.


    Like it hadn¡¯t fully solidified yet.


    Chia noticed my stare and puffed up. ¡°I know, I know. It¡¯s small now. But don¡¯t worry!¡±


    She jabbed a finger at me, her face determined.


    ¡°I¡¯ll cultivate until my artifact is bigger, stronger, and fatter than yours!¡±


    I snorted. ¡°Fatter?¡±


    She froze.


    Then turned red.


    ¡°I-I meant stronger! More defined!¡± she stammered.


    Lina, standing at my side, giggled. ¡°Chia, are you gonna eat your artifact?¡±


    Chia whipped around. ¡°NO!¡±


    The kids burst into laughter.


    She puffed her cheeks, but didn¡¯t argue.


    Instead, she opened the box.


    And from inside¡ª


    A flicker of raw power surged.


    The temperature rose instantly.


    The ground beneath her feet cracked.


    I felt my heartbeat quicken.


    Chia wasn¡¯t fire.


    She wasn¡¯t lightning.


    She wasn¡¯t wind.


    She was something else entirely.


    The energy that spilled out was hot, unstable, volatile.


    Like something was waiting to explode.


    And then, I saw it¡ª


    The elemental inscription.


    Burning letters glowed across the surface of her artifact, spelling out a single word.


    ©¥©¥©¥ ¡ó ©¥©¥©¥


    Element: Magma born


    ©¥©¥©¥ ¡ó ©¥©¥©¥


    Magma.


    Not fire.


    Not just heat.


    Magma.


    Destructive, molten, explosive power.


    I let out a low whistle. ¡°That¡¯s¡­ intense.¡±


    Chia beamed.


    The teasing was forgotten.


    She stood tall, shoulders back, pride shining in her eyes.


    And for the first time since I walked in¡ª


    I saw her as a summoner.


    A real one.


    Chia grumbled, hugging her floating box protectively. "You guys just don''t get it..." She said, giving the box a loving kiss.


    I smiled.


    She was still the same Chia.


    But something in her eyes¡­ wasn¡¯t.


    ¡°So?¡± I asked, tilting my head. ¡°What¡¯s your talent?¡±


    Chia grinned, her round cheeks puffed with pride. ¡°Oh! Watch this!¡±


    She flicked her wrist¡ª


    And from her floating box, a small, round candy popped out.


    It hovered in the air for a moment¡ªthen ignited.


    A molten glow spread across its surface.


    Chia flicked her finger toward a nearby stone¡ª


    And the candy shot forward like a bullet.


    The moment it made contact¡ª


    BOOM!


    A small explosion erupted, sending dust and pebbles flying.


    I stared.


    Lina squealed. ¡°That was awesome!¡±


    Chia beamed, bouncing on her heels. ¡°Right?! My talent is attack-based!It''s an A-grade. "Molten Infusion. I can infuse everything I summon with molten mana, turning them into explosives!" ¡±


    I let out a low whistle. ¡°Not bad.¡±


    She grinned.


    But as she glanced at her artifact again¡ª


    Her smile wavered.


    ¡°¡­But,¡± she muttered, voice lower now, ¡°it¡¯s also a problem.¡±


    I frowned. ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    Chia chewed her lip.


    Then, finally¡ª


    "You know how cultivating your artifact requires gathering mana and using it to solidify, right?" she asked.


    I nodded. I remember my grimoire could cultivate mana on its own, pulling energy from the world around it. For me, it wasn''t a big deal, but others had to do it manually. Maybe that was hard for her?


    Chia¡¯s fingers tightened around her artifact.


    "Mine isn¡¯t normal. I can use normal mana, but..."


    I stiffened.


    She exhaled, rubbing her forehead. ¡°The Magma born element is rare, right? And powerful. But it¡¯s also¡ª¡±


    ¡°Expensive,¡± I finished for her.


    She nodded.


    ¡°I need special energy sources to cultivate my artifact,¡± she muttered. ¡°Without them, it weakens. And the stronger I get, the more resources I¡¯ll need.¡±


    I stayed quiet.


    Chia¡¯s family didn¡¯t own a business. They weren¡¯t well-off.


    They were hardworking people, but in a world where status mattered, where money determined how far you could grow¡­


    Chia was worried.


    And I couldn¡¯t blame her.


    She forced a smile, waving her hand. ¡°But it¡¯s fine! I¡¯ll just work harder. There¡¯s gotta be a way, right?¡±


    I didn¡¯t respond immediately.


    Because I knew.


    I knew that hard work alone wasn¡¯t always enough. My father used to tell me this.


    But looking at her, at the way she stood¡ª


    Determined, defiant, radiating pure willpower¡ª


    I couldn¡¯t find it in me to say those words.


    Chia wasn¡¯t the type to accept failure.


    Even if the world tried to stop her¡ª


    She¡¯d find a way through.


    I exhaled, shaking my head. "Are you sure about this?"


    "Yes."


    ¡°You¡¯re stubborn.¡±


    She grinned. ¡°Of course.¡±


    I smirked. ¡°Then let¡¯s figure it out together.¡±


    Her eyes widened slightly.


    Then¡ª


    She punched my shoulder. ¡°You better not pity me!¡±


    I chuckled. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t dare.¡±


    She huffed. ¡°Good.¡±


    But even as she said that¡ª


    She smiled.


    Chia''s awakening wasn''t perfect. A rare element wasn''t always a blessing.


    It came with uncertainty, struggles, and worries.


    But standing there, watching her grit her teeth and refuse to back down¡­


    I knew one thing for sure.


    She wasn¡¯t going to give up.


    And I¡¯d be damned if I let her struggle alone.

 Chapter 24: A Harsh Reality, Another Way, Another Hurdle

    I leaned against the kitchen table, still thinking about Chia¡¯s awakening.


    ¡°She got Magma Born,¡± I said. ¡°Her element is explosive. Literally.¡±


    Mom, who had been sorting herbs, paused.


    Then¡ªshe sighed.


    Not a sigh of relief.


    A sigh that meant she already knew something I didn¡¯t.


    That didn¡¯t sit right with me.


    ¡°¡­Mom?¡± I asked slowly. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡±


    She set down the dried leaves in her hands, looking at me carefully.


    ¡°I¡¯m happy for Chia,¡± she said. ¡°Truly. But, Akul¡­ she¡¯s not going to have it easy.¡±


    I frowned. ¡°Why not? You just said you¡¯re happy for her.¡±


    ¡°I am,¡± she said softly. ¡°But that doesn¡¯t change reality.¡±


    A small chill ran down my spine.


    ¡°¡­What reality?¡±


    She exhaled, pressing her fingers to her temple.


    ¡°Akul,¡± she said, ¡°you¡¯ve worked with beasts your whole life. You know better than anyone that some affinities are¡­ harder than others.¡±


    I nodded slowly. ¡°Yeah.¡±


    She met my eyes.


    ¡°Then let me ask you this,¡± she said. ¡°Have you ever seen a Magma-type beast in our enclosure?¡±


    I blinked.


    And froze.


    No.


    I hadn¡¯t.


    There were earth types, wind types, water types, and physical types. Even a few rare elementals.


    But no Magma-types.


    ¡°Why?¡± I asked.


    Mom gave a sad smile. ¡°Because they¡¯re almost impossible to keep.¡±


    She wiped her hands on a cloth and sat across from me.


    ¡°Magma beasts are powerful,¡± she said. ¡°Very few elements can stand against them. Even water types struggle because a true Magma beast doesn¡¯t just rely on heat¡ªit hardens its body, internalizes its fire, and counters direct suppression.¡±


    I raised a brow. ¡°That sounds incredible. Wouldn¡¯t that make them highly sought after?¡±


    She chuckled, but it wasn¡¯t a happy sound.


    ¡°Oh, they are,¡± she admitted. ¡°But there¡¯s a problem.¡±


    I leaned in.


    She held up a finger.


    ¡°One: They¡¯re nearly impossible to contract.¡±


    I blinked.


    She continued, ¡°Magma creatures are unstable. Stubborn. Explosive. Even the young ones are naturally aggressive and refuse to listen. Contracting them isn¡¯t just difficult¡ªit¡¯s dangerous.¡±


    I swallowed.


    Right.


    That made sense.


    Magma wasn¡¯t a passive element. It was destruction in its purest form.


    But before I could say anything, she held up a second finger.


    ¡°Two: They¡¯re rare. And that makes them expensive.¡±


    I stiffened.


    ¡°Even if you get lucky enough to find a Magma-type, it won¡¯t be cheap. If you¡¯re buying, it¡¯s bank-breaking. If you¡¯re looking for one in the wild, you¡¯ll have to go to incredibly dangerous areas. Volcanic zones. Lava pits. Places where one wrong step means death.¡±


    I exhaled through my nose.


    So even if Chia managed to get a Magma beast¡­


    She¡¯d have to afford it first.


    And Chia¡¯s family wasn¡¯t wealthy.


    I didn¡¯t like where this was going.


    ¡°¡­Isn¡¯t there a workaround?¡± I asked. ¡°A different type of Magma beast? Something easier?¡±


    Mom tilted her head, considering.


    ¡°Well,¡± she said. ¡°It depends. Let¡¯s think about options.¡± Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more.


    I nodded.


    She tapped the table, thinking.


    ¡°A Charfang, for example, would be an amazing first contract,¡± she said. ¡°It¡¯s strong, fast, and has Lava Blood¡ªwhich means any wounds it takes just make it stronger. But¡­¡±


    She gave me a look.


    ¡°¡­You¡¯d have to be insane to train one.¡±


    I raised a brow. ¡°That bad?¡±


    She smirked. ¡°Worse.¡±


    I shuddered.


    No thanks.


    She continued.


    ¡°A Vorthiz Infernal Serpent would actually be perfect,¡± she admitted. ¡°They¡¯re massive, yes, but they¡¯re highly intelligent. If you could get a young one, it could be trained well. The problem?¡±


    I sighed. ¡°Finding one.¡±


    She nodded. ¡°They live deep in lava tunnels and are almost impossible to track.¡±


    She tapped her chin, thinking.


    ¡°¡­There¡¯s also Cindermaw.¡±


    I blinked. ¡°What¡¯s that?¡±


    She smirked. ¡°A lava worm.¡±


    I made a face. ¡°Ew.¡±


    Mom laughed.


    ¡°Hey, don¡¯t judge,¡± she said. ¡°Cindermaws are extremely effective in combat. They spit lava, move underground, and can grow absurdly strong. But¡­¡±


    I sighed. ¡°What¡¯s the catch?¡±


    ¡°¡­They explode when they get scared.¡±


    I choked. ¡°THEY WHAT?¡±


    She grinned.


    ¡°Yup. Unstable Core. It¡¯s like a failsafe. If they think they¡¯re about to die, they blow themselves up and burrow away.¡±


    I dragged a hand down my face.


    Nope.


    Absolutely not.


    ¡°¡­So what¡¯s the best path?¡± I asked after a while.


    Mom leaned back, exhaling.


    ¡°Realistically?¡± she murmured. ¡°For someone like Chia? She¡¯d have to make a tough choice.¡±


    I stayed quiet.


    She looked me in the eye.


    ¡°She can try to find and contract a weaker Magma-type,¡± she said. ¡°One with defects, or one that¡¯s barely stable enough to bond with her. But that comes with risks.¡±


    I nodded.


    ¡°Or,¡± she continued, ¡°she can work hard, gather money, and wait. Wait until she¡¯s strong enough to find the right beast.¡±


    A pause.


    Then¡ª


    ¡°She won¡¯t like that,¡± I muttered.


    Mom gave a small, sad smile.


    ¡°No,¡± she said softly. ¡°She won¡¯t.¡±


    A heavy silence settled between us.


    Chia was strong. She was determined. But she also wasn¡¯t patient.


    And this?


    This wasn¡¯t a short-term problem.


    This was something that could hold her back for years.


    I clenched my fists.


    ¡°¡­Then I¡¯ll help her,¡± I said firmly.


    Mom smiled.


    ¡°I thought you might say that.¡±


    ¡°¡­Yeah,¡± I muttered, exhaling.


    "But...She won¡¯t wait.¡± I felt that reality sink in.


    Mom gave a small knowing smile.


    And that''s where we left it. I had nothing more I could say or think.


    I exhaled through my nose, shoving my hands into my pockets.


    Nothing.


    No solution.


    No path forward.


    I should¡¯ve known better than to think this would be easy.


    ¡°...I¡¯ll see you later, Mom,¡± I muttered, turning toward the door.


    I barely took two steps before¡ª


    ¡°Akul.¡±


    Her voice stopped me.


    Firm, certain.


    I turned back.


    She was looking at me¡ªnot with pity, not with sympathy¡ªbut with purpose.


    ¡°There is¡­ another option.¡±


    My heart kicked.


    I took a step closer.


    ¡°Another option?¡±


    She nodded, but there was something hesitant in her expression.


    Like this wasn¡¯t easy to say.


    Or maybe¡­ like it wasn¡¯t easy to do.


    Then¡ªfinally¡ªshe spoke.


    ¡°What if,¡± she said carefully, ¡°instead of looking for a Magma beast¡­ we make one?¡±


    I blinked.


    Make one?


    ¡°Wait,¡± I said slowly. ¡°You¡¯re talking about transformation?¡±


    Mom nodded.


    ¡°It¡¯s not common,¡± she admitted. ¡°But it¡¯s possible. If done properly, a fire beast can be nurtured into a Magma beast.¡±


    My mind raced.


    Fire-types were way easier to find. Way cheaper.


    And if this worked¡ªif this was actually possible¡ªthen Chia wouldn¡¯t have to go searching through deathtrap volcanoes or bankrupting her family just to get her first contract.


    She could build something even better.


    ¡°Would it be weaker than a real Magma beast?¡± I asked.


    Mom shook her head.


    ¡°Not necessarily. A pseudo-beast can be just as strong¡ªor even stronger¡ªthan a natural-born Magma-type. It depends on the resources used, the training, and the care put into the transformation.¡±


    I barely heard the rest.


    My brain had already locked onto one thing.


    This was it.


    This was the answer.


    I grinned.


    ¡°Then that¡¯s it,¡± I said, practically buzzing with excitement. ¡°That¡¯s the path. I have to tell Chia¡ª¡±


    I turned, ready to sprint out the door¡ª


    But Mom¡¯s voice stopped me again.


    ¡°Akul, wait.¡±


    I hesitated.


    Her expression had shifted.


    Not hesitant.


    Serious.


    ¡°This isn¡¯t going to be easy,¡± she warned. ¡°If you want to help Chia, really help her, then you need to understand what this means.¡±


    I swallowed, straightening.


    ¡°¡­Go on.¡±


    Mom exhaled, rubbing her temples.


    ¡°First,¡± she said, ¡°this kind of transformation requires very specific conditions. It¡¯s not just a matter of feeding a fire beast some rare minerals and calling it a day.¡±


    I nodded. ¡°I figured.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ll need the right magical tools, inscriptions, and¡ªmost importantly¡ªa proper transformation lab.¡±


    I frowned. ¡°A lab?¡±


    She nodded.


    ¡°There are special rituals, alchemical infusions, and mana saturation techniques that have to be done in a controlled environment. I can do most of the work myself, but I don¡¯t have the tools here. That means¡­¡±


    She paused.


    I already knew what she was going to say.


    I just really didn¡¯t want to hear it.


    ¡°¡­You¡¯d have to go through the Research Institute.¡±


    My stomach dropped.


    And then¡ª


    ¡°HELL no.¡±


    I took a full step back. ¡°Absolutely not.¡±


    Mom sighed. ¡°Akul, calm down¡ª¡±


    ¡°Do you not remember that guy? That smug, entitled, thieving piece of¡ª¡±


    ¡°I remember,¡± she interrupted, voice firm. ¡°But you¡¯re acting like he¡¯s the only person in the Institute.¡±


    I crossed my arms, scowling. ¡°He¡¯s enough of a reason to avoid it entirely.¡±


    Mom gave me a look.


    Not annoyed.


    Not frustrated.


    Just calm.


    And waiting.


    Because she knew, deep down, I already understood.


    If Chia wanted this¡ªif she really wanted this¡ªthis was the best option.


    And I¡¯d have to deal with it.


    I exhaled sharply.


    ¡°¡­Fine,¡± I muttered. ¡°But there¡¯s gotta be a way to do this without dealing with that guy.¡±


    Mom¡¯s expression softened.


    ¡°There is,¡± she said. ¡°If Chia can find the materials and a fire beast, I¡¯ll do the rest.¡±


    I blinked.


    ¡°You¡¯d do it for her?¡±


    She smiled.


    ¡°I would.¡±


    A rush of relief hit me.


    That was more than I had hoped for.


    Mom was an expert in beast transformations. She knew how this worked better than anyone.


    If she was the one handling the process¡ª


    Chia had a real chance.


    Excitement pumped through my veins.


    ¡°Alright,¡± I said, practically buzzing with energy. ¡°That¡¯s it, then. That¡¯s what we¡¯ll do.¡±


    I turned¡ª


    And bolted out the door.


    Chia¡¯s house wasn¡¯t far.


    I covered the distance in record time.


    By the time I arrived, I was grinning like an idiot, fully prepared to barge in and drop the best news of her life.


    But when I saw her¡ª


    The words died in my throat.


    She was sitting outside, arms wrapped around her knees, staring at the ground.


    And the moment I stepped closer¡ª


    I could feel it.


    Something was wrong.


    Her usual energy¡ªher bright, fiery spirit¡ªwas gone.


    Even when I called out¡ª


    ¡°Hey, Chia!¡±


    ¡ªshe barely reacted.


    She lifted her head, tried to smile¡ª


    But the moment I saw it, I knew.


    It was fake.


    Chia didn¡¯t fake things.


    Ever.


    And seeing her do it now?


    It hit me harder than I expected.


    She opened her mouth to say something¡ªprobably to brush it off, to pretend she was fine¡ª


    But I didn¡¯t let her.


    I stepped forward.


    Sat down beside her.


    And just waited.


    She glanced at me, startled¡ªprobably expecting me to just launch into some stupid joke or something.


    But I didn¡¯t.


    Because right now¡ª


    This wasn¡¯t about me.


    It was about her.


    And I wasn¡¯t going anywhere.

 Chapter 25: More Than Just a Dream

    The silence stretched between us.


    Chia sat there, arms curled around her knees, her usual spark nowhere to be seen.


    I had never seen her like this.


    Chia wasn¡¯t the kind of person who sat still. She was loud, excitable, restless.


    But now?


    She looked like the weight of the world had crushed her.


    I didn¡¯t like it.


    ¡°¡­Talk to me,¡± I said.


    She hesitated.


    Then¡ª


    She sighed, resting her chin on her knees.


    ¡°I talked to my dad.¡±


    Her voice was flat.


    ¡°He told me how much a magma beast costs.¡±


    She exhaled sharply, like she was laughing at herself. But there was no humor in it.


    ¡°A hundred thousand gold coins,¡± she said, shaking her head. ¡°For the cheapest one.¡±


    It shocked me.


    That much?


    That was a ridiculous amount of money. Even for a wealthy family, that was a steep price. For Chia¡¯s family¡­


    I understood now.


    ¡°Dad told me,¡± she continued, her voice quiet, ¡°that we don¡¯t even earn a thousand gold a month. We have just enough to live, and that¡¯s it.¡±


    Her fingers clenched her sleeves.


    ¡°There¡¯s no way I can afford one,¡± she whispered. ¡°No matter how hard I work. No matter what I do.¡±


    I swallowed, watching her.


    ¡°I thought awakening would change everything,¡± she admitted. ¡°I thought it would make me strong, like you. That I¡¯d finally be able to catch up.¡±


    She let out a shaky breath.


    ¡°But now?¡± She laughed bitterly. ¡°Now, I¡¯m just a summoner without a summon.¡±


    I felt a twinge in my chest.


    This wasn¡¯t just about the money.


    This was about her dream.


    Her future.


    The thing she had been so excited for just yesterday¡­ was now crumbling right in front of her.


    And she didn¡¯t know how to fix it.


    I wanted to tell her immediately.


    To say, Hey, Chia, I have a solution. Everything¡¯s fine!


    But that wouldn¡¯t fix anything.


    Because right now, she wasn¡¯t ready to hear it.


    Right now¡­


    She needed to feel something else first.


    So I took a deep breath¡ª


    And flicked her forehead.


    Hard.


    ¡°Ow¡ª!?¡± She jerked back, blinking up at me in shock.


    ¡°What was that for?!¡±


    I shrugged. ¡°Felt like you needed it.¡±


    She gaped at me. ¡°Excuse me!?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re talking like it¡¯s already over,¡± I said, crossing my arms. ¡°Like your life¡¯s done just because you hit one wall.¡±


    She scowled. ¡°You don¡¯t get it¡ª¡±


    ¡°I do get it,¡± I cut in. ¡°It¡¯s expensive. It¡¯s not fair. It sucks. I get that.¡±


    I pointed at her.


    ¡°But you know what doesn¡¯t suck?¡±


    She raised an eyebrow.


    I grinned.


    ¡°You.¡±


    She blinked.


    ¡°¡­What?¡±


    I smirked. ¡°You heard me.¡±


    Her face turned red.


    ¡°I¡ª¡±


    But before she could argue¡ª


    I leaned forward, resting my elbows on my knees.


    ¡°You¡¯re not some helpless little girl, Chia,¡± I said, softer now. ¡°You¡¯re you. The same girl who won¡¯t shut up about food. The same girl who¡¯s always chasing after me even when I tell you not to.¡±


    Her lips twitched.


    ¡°And,¡± I added, grinning, ¡°the same girl who just awakened one of the strongest affinities out there.¡±


    She looked away, biting her lip.


    ¡°¡­Doesn¡¯t matter if I can¡¯t use it.¡±


    ¡°Then we¡¯ll find a way.¡±


    She stilled.


    I held her gaze.


    ¡°Chia, I spoke to my mom.¡± I exhaled. ¡°There¡¯s another way.¡±


    Her eyes narrowed. ¡°¡­What do you mean?¡±


    I grinned.


    ¡°You don¡¯t need a Magma beast.¡±


    She blinked. ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°We can make one.¡±


    I explained everything.


    Pseudo-beasts. Transformation. The path that wasn¡¯t easy, but was possible.


    She listened in silence.


    And when I finished¡ª


    She just¡­ stared at me.


    Processing.


    Then¡ª


    Something shifted.


    I saw it in her eyes.


    The light.


    The hope.


    ¡°You¡¯re serious,¡± she whispered.


    I nodded. ¡°Completely.¡±


    She looked down, fingers tightening on her sleeves.


    ¡°This¡­ this could actually work,¡± she murmured. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t have to¡ª¡±


    Her voice caught.


    She swallowed.


    Then, suddenly¡ª


    She snorted.


    I blinked. ¡°¡­What?¡±


    She tried to cover her mouth, laughing.


    I stared at her. ¡°What¡¯s so funny?¡±


    She shook her head, grinning. ¡°You¡ªYou really can¡¯t leave me alone for five minutes, can you?¡±


    I smirked. ¡°Nope.¡±


    If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    She laughed.


    And just like that¡ª


    That weight on her shoulders lifted.


    I exhaled.


    ¡°Good,¡± I said. ¡°That¡¯s the Chia I know.¡±


    She rolled her eyes, but there was no sadness in them anymore.


    ¡°Alright,¡± she said, standing up. ¡°Tell me what I need to do.¡±


    I grinned.


    Now that was more like it.


    The house was quiet.


    Too quiet.


    Chia sat beside me, hands curled into her lap. Across from us, her parents sat stiffly, their expressions carefully controlled. My mother and father sat opposite them, watching. Waiting.


    No one spoke at first.


    Then Chia¡¯s father, Marcos, cleared his throat.


    ¡°I¡­ I don¡¯t even know how to begin to thank you.¡±


    His voice was careful. Formal. Too polite.


    ¡°I never expected something like this. And for you to offer such help¡ª¡± He shook his head, glancing between my parents. ¡°It¡¯s beyond anything we could have imagined.¡±


    I could already see it.


    The gratefulness.


    The shame.


    Chia¡¯s mother, Mira, placed a hand on his arm, but he didn¡¯t meet her gaze. Instead, he looked at my father.


    ¡°But¡­¡± He hesitated. ¡°I have to be honest. Even with this solution, I¡ª¡±


    He swallowed.


    ¡°We don¡¯t have the money.¡±


    I glanced at Chia. Her hands clenched tighter.


    My father exhaled through his nose, leaning back. ¡°That¡¯s understandable.¡±


    Marcos tensed. ¡°I don¡¯t want to waste your time¡ª¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re not.¡±


    Marcos hesitated. ¡°But¡ª¡±


    ¡°You are too polite.¡±


    The room froze.


    Marcos blinked, startled.


    I nearly choked.


    Dad just stared at him, eyes sharp. ¡°Your gratitude is noted. Your concerns are noted. But you are talking in circles.¡±


    Marcos opened his mouth. Than he shut it.


    Dad¡¯s expression didn¡¯t change.


    ¡°This is about Chia¡¯s future,¡± he said, tone firm. ¡°Not yours. So stop worrying about bothering us.¡±


    Marcos swallowed hard.


    Chia¡¯s mother squeezed his arm.


    ¡°¡­I just don¡¯t want to take advantage,¡± he murmured.


    Dad huffed. ¡°You aren¡¯t.¡±


    Marcos sighed. ¡°But even if we accept, I have no idea how we¡¯ll afford a fire beast. Even a weak one costs thousands.¡±


    He let out a bitter laugh. ¡°We can¡¯t even afford a Blazehound, let alone something strong enough for transformation.¡±


    Mom finally spoke.


    ¡°We know,¡± she said gently. ¡°That¡¯s why we¡¯re offering to lend you the money.¡±


    Marcos stiffened.


    Mira¡¯s eyes widened.


    ¡°A¡­ loan?¡± Marcos echoed.


    Dad nodded. ¡°That¡¯s right.¡±


    Marcos looked uncomfortable. ¡°I¡ª¡±


    ¡°This way, you won¡¯t feel like you owe us a favor,¡± Dad continued smoothly. ¡°You won¡¯t have to feel indebted. We¡¯ll handle the cost for now, and you can pay us back over time. No interest.¡±


    Silence.


    Marcos looked down, gripping his knee.


    I could tell exactly what he was thinking.


    He hated this.


    The position he was in.


    The fact that he couldn¡¯t do this himself.


    But what other choice did he have?


    ¡°¡­That¡¯s generous,¡± he murmured. ¡°More generous than we deserve.¡±


    Dad waved a hand. ¡°Nothing is free in this world. This is fair.¡±


    Marcos took a slow breath.


    Then, finally, he nodded.


    ¡°¡­Alright.¡±


    Chia exhaled sharply, shoulders slumping.


    I hadn¡¯t even realized how tense she was until now.


    ¡°Thank you,¡± Mira whispered. ¡°Truly.¡±


    Dad just grunted. ¡°No need to thank us yet. We still need to find the right beast.¡±


    Marcos hesitated.


    ¡°¡­Do you mean purchasing one?¡±


    Dad grinned. ¡°No.¡±


    Marcos blinked.


    ¡°We¡¯ll let the kids find it themselves.¡±


    Now that got a reaction.


    Marcos paled. Mira¡¯s eyes widened.


    ¡°What?!¡±


    I sat up straighter. Chia did too.


    ¡°Summoners should choose their own beasts,¡± Dad said simply. ¡°It¡¯s better that way. Akul will help Chia find a fire beast. They¡¯ll handle the contract, and once they do, we¡¯ll handle the rest.¡±


    Marcos looked horrified. ¡°They¡¯re just kids¡ª¡±


    ¡°They¡¯re summoners,¡± Dad corrected.


    Marcos still looked uncertain.


    But Chia?


    Chia looked determined.


    ¡°I want to do it,¡± she said firmly.


    Marcos turned to her, hesitant. ¡°But, Chia¡ª¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not a little kid anymore,¡± she interrupted. ¡°I can do this. We can do this.¡±


    I smirked. ¡°She¡¯s right.¡±


    Marcos exhaled.


    Then¡ªreluctantly¡ªhe nodded.


    ¡°¡­Fine.¡±


    And just like that¡ª


    The hunt began.

 Chapter 26: A Deal Too Good to Be True.

    The city market was alive with color and noise. Merchants shouted their prices, beasts roared in caged enclosures, and the scent of hay, metal, and roasted street food filled the air.


    Akul, Chia, and his mother moved through the crowd, scanning the stalls.


    Everywhere they looked¡ªfire beasts.


    Some snarled behind reinforced glass, others lay lazily in reinforced pens, their molten eyes flickering. But one thing was clear: fire beasts weren¡¯t cheap.


    ¡°I knew they¡¯d be expensive¡­¡± Chia muttered, ¡°but this is ridiculous.¡±


    Akul exhaled sharply. ¡°20,000 to 25,000 gold coins for a top-tier common rank¡­¡±


    ¡°And that¡¯s just the base price,¡± his mother added. ¡°That doesn¡¯t include feed, training, or care. The lower-tier ones are under 10,000, but¡­¡±


    Chia glanced at a cage nearby.


    Inside was a mangy-looking hound, its fire barely a flicker across its spine. A tag on its enclosure read ¡®Sold at Discount ¨C Unstable Core¡¯.


    She frowned. ¡°Defects¡­¡±


    Akul sighed. They had been at this all morning.


    They moved from stall to stall, hearing the same thing.


    Fire beasts were rare.


    Fire beasts were expensive.


    And magma beasts? Forget it.


    Chia¡¯s shoulders slumped. ¡°At this rate, we¡¯ll never¡ª¡±


    ¡°I couldn¡¯t help but overhear¡­¡±


    The voice was smooth. Low.


    They turned.


    A man stood beside them.


    Not dirty, not suspicious-looking. But shady.


    His cloak was well-kept, but pulled just a little too tight around him. His boots were polished, but scuffed at the edges. His eyes held a glint of something hidden.


    Akul¡¯s mother immediately stiffened.


    ¡°Excuse me?¡± she said, voice cautious.


    The man smiled, hands raised. ¡°Apologies, madam. I was passing by and heard your concerns. You¡¯re looking for a fire beast, yes?¡±


    Akul narrowed his eyes. ¡°¡­Why?¡±


    ¡°Well,¡± the man said, voice smooth as oil, ¡°I happen to know where you can find one. A good one. Not these overpriced city beasts.¡±


    Chia¡¯s ears perked up.


    Akul¡¯s mother¡¯s expression turned icy. ¡°Not interested.¡±


    ¡°Wait,¡± Akul said before she could pull him away.


    He wasn¡¯t an idiot.


    This was sketchy.


    But¡­


    ¡°What do we have to lose?¡± he asked. ¡°We¡¯ll take a look. If it¡¯s a scam, we leave.¡±


    His mother shot him a look.


    The man grinned.


    ¡°Smart kid.¡±


    They left the market.


    Past the bustling streets.


    Past the tightly packed buildings.


    And soon, the city faded behind them.


    The road turned rougher, dustier, the scent of beasts growing stronger.


    The outskirts of the city bled into farmland, vast fields stretching into the distance.


    Akul¡¯s mother walked beside them, one hand on the small blade she always carried at her waist. She didn¡¯t trust this. Not one bit.


    Chia, on the other hand, was buzzing with curiosity.


    ¡°How much farther?¡± she asked.


    ¡°Not far,¡± the man said smoothly. ¡°See that up ahead?¡±


    They looked.


    A large facility stood among the rolling fields.


    But unlike the wooden farmhouses and open grazing fields around it¡ªthis one looked modern.


    Reinforced enclosures. Thick iron fencing. The mark of an officially licensed breeder hung near the front gate.


    Akul¡¯s mother frowned. It looked legitimate.


    Akul exchanged glances with Chia.


    Maybe¡­ this wasn¡¯t a scam?


    A man stood at the gate, tall, broad-shouldered, and clean-cut.


    He wore simple work clothes, but his posture screamed trained summoner.


    ¡°Ah, customers?¡± He looked at the cloaked man. ¡°Bringing in business again, I see.¡±


    The man chuckled. ¡°You know me. Always connecting the right people.¡±


    The farm owner turned to them. ¡°Welcome. I¡¯m Dion, head breeder here.¡±


    His tone was warm. Friendly.


    Chia immediately relaxed.


    Akul¡­ did not.


    Something about this still felt too convenient.


    ¡°Come,¡± Dion gestured, leading them inside.


    The moment they stepped in¡ªheat washed over them.


    A wall of dry, smoldering warmth, the kind that clung to your skin.


    Inside, rows of fire beasts stood in reinforced enclosures.


    And then¡ªthey saw them.


    The boars.


    Massive creatures, low to the ground but built like moving fortresses.


    Their thick, leathery hide had a texture similar to rhinoceros armor, layered for protection.


    Two menacing tusks curved outward from their mouths, jagged and sharp enough to pierce metal.


    But the most striking thing?


    The fire.


    A molten blaze ran from their skulls to their tails, flickering with every breath. It wasn¡¯t a wild, untamed fire¡ªit was controlled, flowing in steady streams along their ridges like a living flame.


    Their breath wasn¡¯t just hot¡ªit distorted the air itself, waves of heat rippling around their bodies like a living furnace.


    Chia¡¯s jaw dropped. ¡°Whoa.¡±


    Even Akul had to admit¡ªthey were impressive.


    Dion smirked. ¡°Beautiful, aren¡¯t they?¡±


    ¡°How strong are they?¡± Akul asked.


    ¡°For common-rank? Incredibly strong. Their physical endurance is top-tier, and their fire affinity is stable. They¡¯re natural frontline beasts¡ªstubborn, powerful, and resistant to burns.¡±


    He gestured toward different enclosures.


    ¡°This section here is for juveniles. Over there¡ªsub-adults. And at the far end, full-grown, battle-ready beasts.¡±


    Akul watched Chia.


    Her eyes sparkled.


    ¡°Can we¡ª?¡± she hesitated. ¡°Can we see them up close?¡±


    Dion chuckled. ¡°Of course.¡±


    He led them forward.


    So far¡ªeverything checked out.


    The farm was well-kept. The beasts were in peak condition.


    No signs of mistreatment.


    No signs of shady dealings.


    Maybe this wasn¡¯t so bad after all.


    Then¡ª


    BANG!


    The sound ripped through the silent air.


    Akul flinched. His mother¡¯s hand snapped to her weapon.


    Chia froze.


    Then¡ªa deep, rumbling growl.


    It sounded...painful.


    Something was wrong.


    Dion¡¯s easy demeanor shifted.


    He turned¡ªexpression suddenly sharp.


    ¡°Stay here,¡± he ordered.


    And before they could respond¡ªhe took off toward the sound.


    Dion¡¯s words were clear.


    ¡°Stay here.¡±


    And of course¡­ we didn¡¯t.


    Chia was the first to whisper it. ¡°We¡¯re not actually staying, right?¡±


    I glanced at her, then at Bobo. His golden eyes flickered, head already tilting toward the direction Dion had disappeared.


    ¡°No way we¡¯re staying,¡± I muttered.


    So we moved.


    Not immediately¡ªjust slow, careful steps at first, pretending to still be admiring the fire boars.


    But then we slipped away.


    Through the farm.


    Past the enclosures.


    Toward where Dion had gone.


    And that¡¯s when we saw it.


    A sealed-off room.


    It wasn¡¯t like the other enclosures.


    No windows.


    No cracks.


    Just a single reinforced door and two small ventilation grates near the ceiling.


    And standing in front of it¡ªDion.


    The door clanked shut.


    A loud, metallic lock twisting into place.


    I caught the briefest glimpse of his expression.


    Annoyed. Irritated. Scoffing.


    Then¡ªhe turned.


    And just like that¡ªhis entire demeanor changed.


    His face brightened. His smile returned. The same friendly, easy-going breeder we had met just moments ago.


    ¡°Ah, sorry about that!¡± he called out, walking toward us like nothing had happened. ¡°Farm life¡ªalways something unexpected, huh?¡±


    He let out a fake chuckle.


    Too fake.


    None of us moved.


    None of us spoke.


    We had all seen it.


    The shift.


    The momentary crack in his mask.


    This man was hiding something.


    Dion kept talking, but I wasn¡¯t listening anymore.


    My gaze flicked toward Bobo.


    Our bond was strong enough now that I didn¡¯t even need to speak aloud.


    I just gave the smallest nod.


    Bobo¡¯s eyes sharpened.


    Then¡ªhe slipped away.


    Silent. Quick. A golden shadow vanishing behind the enclosures.


    Dion kept up his polite nonsense, completely unaware.


    ¡°And I do hope the loud noise didn¡¯t scare you all,¡± he went on, giving a concerned smile. ¡°We take great pride in our animals¡¯ well-being. Nothing to worry about.¡±


    Yeah. Right.


    I had no idea what was happening inside that sealed room.


    But I imagined.


    I imagined Bobo scaling one of the nearby fences. His small, nimble body leaping onto the enclosure beams, slipping through gaps with ease.


    I imagined him finding the ventilation grate. Small enough to fit, squeezing his way inside.


    I imagined him peeking through the thin slits of metal, eyes wide as he took in whatever was locked away inside.


    And whatever he saw¡ª


    It shocked him.


    I knew because when Bobo returned minutes later, he wasn¡¯t just rushing.


    He was frantic.


    Bobo was fast, but not like this. Not wild. Not erratic. He was moving like something was chasing him, like something inside had shaken him to his core.


    He scampered up my shoulder, tapping my face urgently with his little hands, mimicking movements wildly.


    ¡°What? What is it?¡± I whispered.


    Bobo grabbed his own arm, squeezed tight¡ªlike he was hurt.


    Something injured.


    Then he curled inward, making himself small.


    Weak.


    His golden tail flicked toward the sealed-off room.


    Inside.


    I exhaled slowly.


    ¡°Something¡¯s trapped in there?¡±


    Bobo nodded furiously.


    I glanced at Chia. Her face had paled slightly. ¡°Akul¡­ we shouldn¡¯t mess with this.¡±


    But I was already looking back at Bobo.


    ¡°¡­Can you free it?¡± I whispered.


    Bobo¡¯s expression shifted.


    Determination.


    I gave him a quick, sharp nod.


    ¡°Go.¡±


    And just like that¡ªBobo was gone again.


    I had no idea how he was going to do it, but Bobo was smart.


    In the end, I could only hope.


    Hope that his training had made him quiet enough.


    Hope that his strength had grown enough.


    Hope that Dion hadn¡¯t taken extra precautions.


    And so, we waited.


    Minutes passed.


    I tried to act natural, forcing small nods as Dion continued his fake conversation.


    Then¡ª


    Click.


    A soft, metallic shift.


    I barely heard it.


    But then¡ª


    BOOM.


    A deafening slam echoed through the farm.


    And suddenly¡ªa blur of movement.


    Something rushed straight toward us.


    Fast.


    Wild.


    Unstoppable.


    Dion¡¯s entire expression changed.


    His calm mask shattered.


    His eyes widened in pure rage.


    ¡°No,¡± he snarled.


    And in that moment¡ªI knew.


    Whatever we had just set free¡­


    It wasn¡¯t supposed to leave alive.

 Chapter 27: The Abomination.

    The first thing I noticed was the bones.


    Too many of them.


    I knew what a fire boar was supposed to look like.


    Stocky, powerful, with broad shoulders and a thick, leathery hide. A mane of fire running down its spine, tusks curved forward like sharpened scimitars.


    But this?


    This thing?


    This was wrong.


    The boar that burst from the sealed room was a grotesque mockery of its kind.


    Its body was too thin¡ªskin stretched over bones, ribs visible with every ragged breath it took. Its back had a hunched deformity, a grotesque bulge rising unnaturally from the base of its neck.


    It had four tusks instead of two.


    Two of them twisted inward, piercing into its own mouth. The other two curved outward¡ªjagged, unnatural, malformed.


    And its eyes¡ª


    Red.


    Not the deep, warm ember-like glow of a healthy fire beast.


    Pure, bloody crimson.


    Like something had gone wrong inside of it.


    Its skin was darker, close to black, but uneven¡ªcracked in places, scars running along its body like something had tried to tear it apart and failed. Its hooves were overgrown, curling like neglected nails. And on its front legs¡ª


    Two bulging growths.


    At first, I thought they were just unnatural lumps of flesh.


    But then I realized¡ª


    They were bones.


    Jagged, protruding out of its skin.


    Broken bones? Or deformed ones? I couldn¡¯t tell.


    But what I did know¡ª


    Was that this wasn¡¯t natural.


    This wasn¡¯t just a sick beast.


    This was something else entirely.


    A failed experiment.


    And the moment Dion saw it¡ªhe lost it.


    ¡°GET BACK HERE!¡±


    Dion¡¯s voice roared across the farm.


    His hand shot out¡ªhis own beast materializing instantly.


    A Crimsonfang Hound.


    Lean, vicious, built for the kill. Its body was wreathed in black and red flames, fur crackling with heat.


    The deformed boar barely had time to react before the hound pounced.


    Teeth sank into flesh.


    The air filled with a sickening CRUNCH.


    The deformed beast squealed.


    It was fast.


    But not strong.


    Not anymore.


    Dion¡¯s hound dominated the fight in seconds, slamming the boar to the ground, its fangs tearing through already-weak flesh.


    And just like that¡ªit was over.


    The twisted boar lay collapsed, panting, bleeding.


    Weak.


    Dying.


    And Dion?


    He stepped forward, grabbing it by the scruff like a discarded toy.


    ¡°Back to your cage,¡± he muttered. "I don''t understand how you got out in the first place."


    But before he could take another step¡ª


    My mother¡¯s voice cut through the air.


    ¡°What the hell is going on here?¡±


    Dion froze.


    Slowly, he turned.


    And for the first time¡ªhis fake, friendly mask was completely gone.


    ¡°¡­Excuse me?¡± he asked, voice flat.


    Mother took a single step forward, her eyes piercing.


    ¡°This¡ª¡± she gestured toward the wounded beast, ¡°¡ªisn''t a natural mutation.¡±


    Dion¡¯s grip tightened. ¡°I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re talking about.¡±


    Mother ignored him.


    ¡°I see clear signs of bloodline alteration. I see forced mutations, deformation magic¡ª¡±


    ¡°I run a legal breeding facility,¡± Dion interrupted sharply.


    Mother¡¯s lips curled. ¡°Then why do I see illegal malpractice?¡±


    Tension crackled in the air.


    Chia edged closer to me, whispering, ¡°A-Akul¡­¡±


    But I was too focused.


    Mother continued, voice cold.


    ¡°This is clearly a result of mutation-inducing magic. A practice that is¡ª¡±


    ¡°¡ªforbidden,¡± Dion finished bitterly. His eyes darkened. ¡°You have no proof.¡±


    ¡°Is that so?¡± Mother tilted her head.


    Then, with a single, calm sentence¡ªshe destroyed him.


    ¡°Would you like me to contact the Beast Association and have your license revoked?¡±


    Silence.


    Dion¡¯s entire body stiffened.


    Dion¡¯s fingers curled tightly around the boar¡¯s scruff.


    For a moment, no one moved.


    Then¡ªhe smirked.


    ¡°Revoke my license?¡± His voice was light. Too light. Like this was all a joke to him. ¡°Do you think that scares me...? Bitch!"


    A shift in the air.


    Not mana¡ªbut intent.


    Killing intent.


    The moment I felt it, so did Bobo.


    His fur bristled. His tiny hands clenched my sleeve, his body tensed.


    Dion¡¯s smirk widened¡ªbecause he saw it too.


    The Crimsonfang Hound walked closer to its master, letting its presence be known.


    ¡°So what now?¡± he mused, tilting his head. ¡°You¡¯ll report me? Have the authorities investigate?¡±


    His fingers tightened around the boar¡¯s frail body.


    It let out a weak, strangled wheeze.


    ¡°By the time they arrive, this thing won¡¯t even exist.¡±


    My stomach dropped.


    I took a sharp step forward¡ªbut Mother¡¯s hand snapped up.


    Not yet.


    Dion chuckled. ¡°That¡¯s the thing about weak creatures, isn¡¯t it? They break so¡­ easily.¡±


    His hound prowled forward.


    Teeth bared.


    Eyes locked onto us.


    A heatwave pulsed off its body, the air around it shimmering from the sheer heat.


    Dion wasn¡¯t bluffing.


    He wasn¡¯t scared.


    Not completely.


    Because, even if the Beast Association came¡ªthere were ways out of this.


    They¡¯d need evidence. Documentation. Direct witnesses.


    And until then?


    This was his land. His domain.


    If things went south¡ªhe had more than enough muscle to force his way out.


    And Mother knew it.


    Her posture remained calm.


    But her fingers flexed slightly¡ªcalculating.


    Then, finally, she sighed.


    ¡°Alright,¡± she murmured. ¡°I see how it is.¡±


    Dion¡¯s grin widened.


    Mother stepped forward.


    Slow. Controlled.


    And just as his confidence peaked¡ª


    She moved.


    Her foot slammed down.


    Mana surged.


    Dion¡¯s grin vanished.


    The ground beneath us rippled. A sudden, invisible pressure crushed down on the farm.


    It wasn¡¯t a spell.


    It wasn¡¯t an attack.


    It was presence.


    Pure, undiluted dominance.


    The Crimsonfang Hound stumbled back, whining.


    Bobo froze.


    Even I struggled to breathe.


    But Dion?


    For the first time¡ªhe looked uncertain.


    Mother exhaled, her voice dropping to a deadly whisper.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t come here looking for trouble.¡±


    A pause.


    Then¡ªher head tilted, just slightly.


    ¡°But if you think I won¡¯t break every single bone in your body before the authorities arrive¡ª¡±


    She smiled.


    ¡°¡ªthen you¡¯re more delusional than I thought.¡±


    Dion¡¯s jaw clenched.


    A single bead of sweat slid down his temple.


    For a few, agonizing seconds¡ªno one spoke.


    Then, finally¡ªhis grip loosened.


    He dropped the deformed beast onto the dirt.


    ¡°¡­Fine,¡± he muttered.


    But his eyes never left us.


    Even as Mother picked up the wounded creature.


    Even as we turned away.


    Even as we walked off his land.


    That smirk¡ªnever fully disappeared.


    And I knew¡ª


    This wasn¡¯t over.


    Not by a long shot.


    The entire way back¡ªI was burning with questions.


    How did mom do that?


    Who was he working for?


    How deep did this actually go?


    And most importantly¡ª


    ¡°Mother.¡± I finally spoke up.


    She turned to me.


    ¡°¡­Why didn¡¯t you report him?¡±


    Her expression darkened.


    For a moment, she didn¡¯t answer.


    Then¡ªshe sighed.


    ¡°This runs deeper than one breeder, Akul.¡±


    I frowned. ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    She glanced down at the wounded beast on the transportation trails


    ¡°The magic used here¡­ this wasn¡¯t low-level experimentation. This was advanced.¡±


    Her grip tightened slightly.


    ¡°This wasn¡¯t just some shady breeder trying his hand at mutation magic.¡±


    Her voice lowered.


    ¡°This was a deliberate project.¡±


    "A project that had failed."


    A chill ran down my spine.


    I swallowed. ¡°So then¡­ why not stop it?¡±


    Mother exhaled.


    ¡°Because, Akul¡ªthis is bigger than us.¡±


    She met my gaze.


    ¡°We got the beast out. That¡¯s the most we could do.¡±


    And even though it didn¡¯t sit right with me¡­


    "At least for now... my son this is for the best."


    I understood.


    For now¡ª


    This wasn¡¯t our fight.


    But something told me¡ª


    It would be, soon enough.

 Chapter 28: Chia’s heart.

    medical bay was silent except for the labored breathing of the creature on the table.


    The nurses worked quickly, their hands moving with practiced efficiency, but the tension in the room was thick¡ªtoo thick.


    I stood to the side, watching as they prepared their tools, a dull weight settling in my chest.


    The lead nurse, a stern-looking woman with sharp eyes, hovered her hand over the creature¡¯s deformed body. A faint glow spread from her fingertips as diagnostic magic pulsed through the beast¡¯s frame.


    A second later, she exhaled sharply.


    ¡°¡­This is worse than I thought.¡±


    She waved over an assistant, who quickly laid out several enchanted scalpels and medical tools.


    ¡°Let¡¯s start with the tusks,¡± she ordered. ¡°The ones growing into its mouth¡ªthose need to go first.¡±


    A younger nurse hesitated. ¡°But won¡¯t that cause¡ª¡±


    ¡°If we don¡¯t remove them, it won¡¯t be able to eat,¡± the lead nurse cut in. ¡°It¡¯s already malnourished. If we wait any longer, starvation will finish the job before its body gives out.¡±


    The younger nurse paled but nodded, stepping forward with a steadying breath.


    One of the assistants carefully positioned the creature¡¯s head while the lead nurse adjusted the scalpel. With precise, fluid motions, she sliced through the overgrown tusk, severing it cleanly from where it had pierced through the soft tissue of the mouth.


    A weak, gurgling noise escaped the beast¡¯s throat.


    I winced.


    A fresh wave of blood trickled from the wound, but another nurse was already on it¡ªpressing a glowing cloth against the area, the fabric absorbing the blood and slowly knitting the flesh back together.


    One tusk down.


    They moved to the second one.


    This time, when the scalpel cut through, the beast let out a shuddering whimper.


    Something inside me twisted.


    I clenched my fists.


    This thing had suffered.


    More than I had initially realized.


    They finished removing the last of the inward-curved tusks, and immediately after, the nurse ran another diagnostic spell¡ªher brow furrowing deeper.


    ¡°The bone structure isn¡¯t normal,¡± she muttered. ¡°I was hoping the damage was external, but¡­ no. The mutations go all the way down.¡±


    She moved her hands lower, over the two large bulges near its legs.


    A moment later, she cursed under her breath.


    ¡°¡­Its own bones are stabbing through its skin.¡±


    A murmur rippled through the room.


    One of the assistants took a hesitant step forward. ¡°Should we¡ªshould we try to reset them?¡±


    The nurse¡¯s jaw tightened.


    She tried.


    With extreme care, she used magic to probe the damaged areas, attempting to realign the bones, to mend what had been twisted beyond recognition.


    But the moment she applied pressure¡ª  Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website.


    Crack.


    The deformation snapped back into place like a rubber band, resisting the correction.


    A sickening crunch followed.


    The beast jerked violently.


    And the wound reopened.


    The nurse pulled back, shaking her head. ¡°It¡¯s no use.¡±


    Her voice was quieter now.


    ¡°There¡¯s too much interference. Too much unnatural energy inside of it. Whatever was done to it¡­ the body refuses to be fixed.¡±


    A heavy silence settled over the room.


    My mother rubbed her temples, exhaling sharply. ¡°Then we¡¯ll do what we can. Clean the wounds. Try to stabilize it. At the very least, we won¡¯t let it die in filth.¡±


    The nurses nodded.


    More warm water. More gentle hands wiping away dirt, dried blood, and the grime of who knows how many weeks of neglect.


    But the more they cleaned, the more they revealed just how broken this beast truly was.


    I could see it in their faces.


    They didn¡¯t think it would make it.


    And deep down¡ª


    Neither did I.


    The air inside the healing chamber was thick with mana, a soft hum vibrating in the walls as the array worked its magic.


    The beast lay motionless at the center, its deformed body barely rising and falling with each breath.


    I sat outside, arms crossed, my mind a mess of thoughts.


    Chia plopped down next to me, arms resting over her knees.


    ¡°You¡¯re being weirdly quiet,¡± she said.


    I glanced at her. ¡°Sorry.¡±


    She rolled her eyes. ¡°Don¡¯t apologize, dummy. I¡¯m just saying¡ªyou¡¯re not usually like this.¡±


    I hesitated, then sighed. ¡°I just feel bad. We were supposed to be looking for your summon today, and instead, we¡ª¡±


    Chia blinked at me, then giggled. "You''re being silly, Akul."


    I frowned. "What?"


    ¡°Are you serious?¡± Chia cut in, nudging my shoulder. ¡°I don¡¯t care about that. You think I¡¯d rather be out haggling with sweaty merchants than dealing with¡­ him?¡±


    She shook her head, still smiling. "Why are you acting like this is some kind of problem?" She nudged me again with her elbow. "I wouldn¡¯t trade today for anything. Not after seeing this."


    I looked back at the beast¡ªits frail, broken form, the unnatural scars lining its hide.


    I could barely stand to look at it.


    But Chia?


    She stepped closer.


    Too close.


    ¡°Chia¡ª¡±


    Before I could stop her, she was inside the incubation chamber.


    I tensed, watching as she crouched beside the beast.


    One hand reached out¡ªhesitant, gentle.


    Her fingers brushed against its battered skin.


    This is crazy.


    "Chia, get back," I said sharply. "It''s dangerous."


    She didn''t listen.


    Her touch lingered, her thumb tracing over the creature¡¯s deformed shoulder.


    And then, in a whisper, she said¡ª


    ¡°¡­Poor thing.¡±


    Those words stung... Even more so, looking at what was left of this beast.


    Chia wasn¡¯t scared.


    She wasn¡¯t disgusted.


    Her face¡ªher eyes¡ªwere filled with nothing but pure, aching compassion.


    "It didn¡¯t choose this, you know," she murmured. "It didn¡¯t ask to be treated like this."


    Her voice was so soft, but the words hit harder than I expected.


    I swallowed. "Chia..."


    She turned to me, her expression firm now. "I want to help him, Akul. No matter what."


    Her hands clenched into tiny fists.


    "I don¡¯t care how broken he looks. I don¡¯t care what anyone says. He deserves a chance."


    Something about the way she said it made my chest tighten.


    I glanced at the beast again.


    I had been so focused on how the nursing center can help it¡ªhow impossible it seemed to save¡ªthat I hadn¡¯t even considered what I can do to save it.


    Chia had.


    From the moment she saw it, she wanted to do something.


    I exhaled through my nose, shaking my head. "You¡¯re unbelievable."


    She grinned. "And you¡¯re slow to catch up."


    I rolled my eyes. "Fine."


    I looked at the beast again, this time really looking.


    If she wanted to save it¡­


    I glanced at Bobo, who was curled up near my feet, resting after a long day of training.


    I had healed him before. I did help him surpass what he originally was.


    I exhaled and placed my palm against the beast¡¯s rough, scarred skin.


    Then¡ª


    I activated my eyes.


    The world around me faded.


    A rush of unfamiliar sensations overwhelmed me as my vision peeled away the surface and revealed what was hidden beneath.


    I stiffened.


    There wasn¡¯t just one energy inside this beast.


    There were many.


    A writhing, tangled mass of chaotic forces surged beneath its skin¡ªeach one different, each one clashing.


    I barely had time to process the sight before the sheer violence of these energies hit me.


    They weren¡¯t stable.


    They weren¡¯t working together.


    They were at war.


    I watched, my breath caught in my throat, as these unknown forces tore through muscle, shattered bone, and twisted flesh.


    This wasn¡¯t some external curse.


    This was an internal battleground.


    And the beast?


    It was losing.


    My gaze traced the worst of the damage.


    Three points stood out, each pulsing with concentrated chaos:


    1. The hunchback ¨C a cluster of burning, frenzied energy, pulsating erratically, like an overcharged mana core ready to explode.


    2. The face¡ªparticularly the tusks ¨C jagged lines of energy snaked through the bone, forcing unnatural growth, warping them inward.


    3. The shoulders ¨C thick, concentrated masses of magic were pushing against the skin, trying to break through in grotesque, unnatural ways.


    I swallowed hard.


    Even without knowing exactly what these energies were, I knew what they were doing.


    They were breaking it down.


    They weren¡¯t strengthening the beast.


    They were eating it alive.


    "I don¡¯t know what you¡¯ll become in the end," I whispered softly, my hand wrapped in power as I pressed it against its skin.


    But it''s time for your body to fight back, and win this war.

 Chapter29: feeding the Growth Factor.

    Chapter29: feeding the Growth Factor.


    The moment my palm touched the beast¡¯s deformed frame, I let out a slow breath.


    It was unlike anything I¡¯d ever sensed before, see it was one thing but sensing it felt wrong¡ªenergies tangled together like a thousand burning wires, knotting and coiling in endless conflict. Some pulsed erratically, consuming muscle and bone as if eating the creature from the inside out. Others flared in violent bursts, forcing unnatural growths.


    It wasn¡¯t a single force tearing this beast apart.


    It was many.


    And they were at war.


    They had run rampant, reshaping and breaking whatever they pleased.


    But their time was up.


    My grimoire floated beside me, pages flipping open on their own, raw mana pulsing from its core as I activated my skill.


    Adaptive Growth Factor.


    Mana surged from my artifact, not into the beast¡¯s wounds, not into the chaotic forces raging inside it¡ª


    But into its growth factor.


    Every living thing has it. A force buried deep inside, silent, patient, working, waiting for the right conditions to grow.


    I tore those conditions apart.


    I set it free.


    Ang guess what? It was angry, and it was hungry.


    For weeks, maybe months, this beast had been trapped in a body that couldn¡¯t grow properly, a body twisted and broken by forces it didn¡¯t understand. But now¡ª


    Now, its instincts took over.


    The very thing meant to shape its existence, meant to build it into something strong, had been caged for too long.


    Not anymore.


    Bon app¨¦tit.


    The magical energies that had settled in did whatever they pleased. It didn''t suppress them; it didn''t block them; it devoured them.


    The growth factor was devouring.


    Not gently. Not carefully.


    It ravaged the unnatural forces inside the beast, tore through the foreign mana, shredded the chaos apart and consumed it for what it was¡ªfuel.


    Growth required fuel. And right now, this body had plenty of excess energy. This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    It was like watching a starving man eat after years of famine.


    The process started slow¡ªtoo slow. But then, the moment energy flooded into the right places, the body reacted with pure, biological vengeance.


    Seconds passed.


    At some point, Chia had sat beside me, watching in silence, not daring to interrupt.


    At some point, I had started sweating, my breath coming in slow, controlled exhales as I worked.


    At some point, I saw Chia stifle a yawn.


    At some point, her head dropped onto my shoulder, her breathing slowing.


    Then At some point Seconds blurred into minutes and minutes into hours.


    The room shifted around me, but I barely noticed at first.


    I heard some noise, then I felt something.


    At first, I thought it was Chia shifting, but when I glanced up¡ª


    My mother stood at the doorway.


    Her sharp eyes locked onto me, onto the faint glow of energy threading through my fingertips.


    She said nothing.


    Neither did I.


    Her gaze flicked to the beast. Her arms slowly crossed, but she didn¡¯t step forward.


    Didn¡¯t stop me.


    She was watching.


    Behind her, I caught the faintest shuffle of movement.


    Father.


    I wasn¡¯t sure when he had arrived, but there he was, standing just outside the doorway, arms resting at his sides.


    They didn¡¯t interrupt.


    They didn¡¯t offer advice.


    They just¡­ waited


    Brittle bones thickened, sucking in the stolen energy like a sponge.


    Muscle fibers snapped and reformed, filling out gaps where they had wasted away.


    Scarred skin knit itself together¡ªnot back to what it had been, but into something new.


    The body didn¡¯t just restore itself.


    It grew, it leveled itself, it changed itself, and it developed itself into something new.


    This wasn¡¯t healing. This was rebuilding.


    I clenched my jaw, feeling my artifact drain at a terrifying speed.


    Damn. This thing was huge.


    Bobo had been small enough to fit in my palm.


    This beast?


    This was an entirely different scale. It was the size of a full-grown horse.


    I could already feel the strain, the heaviness pressing against my skull as mana drained from me in waves.


    But I wasn¡¯t done, not yet.


    I had another ace upon my sleeve. forcing my artifact into cultivation mode. The grimoire pulsed in response, drawing in the mana-rich air of the chamber, replenishing itself as quickly as it could.


    I heard murmured voices, the shifting of feet¡ªsomeone checking on Chia, who had long since leaned against my side, eyes fluttering shut.


    Bobo, curled at my feet, had been silent at first. But now, his tail flicked anxiously. At some point, he had climbed onto my lap, his small hands pressing against my arm as if trying to share his own energy. to offer something¡ªanything¡ªto help.


    And the beast?


    It didn¡¯t stop. I could feel its body''s desire, its needs, its thirst.


    It had waited too long for this moment.


    Now that it had a chance, it wouldn¡¯t waste a single drop.


    My artifact floated nearby, its aura flickering as it cultivated mana on its own¡ªbarely keeping up with the drain.


    I forced myself to focus.


    The final, chaotic remnants of mutation energy crackled, resisting, trying to survive.


    It didn¡¯t stand a chance.


    The growth factor swallowed it whole.


    I let out a slow, exhausted breath, my arms shaking as I finally pulled my hand away.


    The beast¡¯s body¡ªonce frail, once barely clinging to life¡ªnow rested.


    Still. Balanced. Waiting for what came next.


    I looked down at my own trembling fingers.


    Then, at Chia, who stirred against my shoulder, blinking awake.


    ¡°¡­Did it work?¡±


    I exhaled.


    I nodded.


    Her face lit up, eyes glistening¡ªnot with tears, but with something fierce.


    A belief that never wavered.


    Bobo huffed, crossing his arms. If he could talk, he¡¯d probably say, "Of course it worked."


    My mother sighed, brushing damp hair from my forehead. ¡°Reckless,¡± she muttered, but I heard the pride beneath it.


    My father finally uncrossed his arms, watching silently.


    Then¡ª


    I spoke tiredly, but confidently.


    "I''m your boy, I know."


    His face beamed with a smile as he ruffled my hair and hugged me tightly.


    I pushed him back, breathing deeply. "Dad... I''m tired."


    He laughed loudly. This was one of the few occasions I ever actually heard him laugh like this.


    My heart was at peace.


    We weren¡¯t done. Not by a long shot.


    But for now?


    That was enough.

 Chapter 30: Bobo and... Marshmallow?

    Morning arrived like any other. The sky stretched in soft hues of blue, the distant chirps of early-rising birds mingling with the faint hum of mana flowing through the air.


    I stretched, exhaling slowly, feeling the familiar warmth of cultivated energy coursing through my veins. My artifact had absorbed mana throughout the night, and as expected, I woke up feeling refreshed.


    Another day. Another step forward.


    Life had fallen into a steady rhythm: cultivation at night, training in the morning.


    Every day, I pushed Bobo through rigorous exercises, reinforcing his growth with Adaptive Growth Factor after meals, Recovery Stimulation after training, and Neural Acceleration when teaching him something new. The results spoke for themselves¡ªBobo¡¯s agility had sharpened, his strength had increased, and his mind was sharper than ever.


    He wasn¡¯t just stronger; he was evolving.


    Not in rank, but in sheer ability and skill.


    Rhyzar¡¯s ape still outclassed him in every way, but Bobo no longer just took beatings¡ªhe was moving quite well. I might be biased because he¡¯s my companion, but he has truly grown.


    Today, we''d meet with Rhyzar again. He would come to test our progress and see Bobo¡¯s development and the results of our training.


    The backyard training ground felt different today.


    Not because of the sun climbing lazily over the horizon. Not because of the morning air, crisp with the scent of dew-covered grass.


    No.


    It was because of her.


    ¡°Go, Bobo! Smack him in the face! No, wait¡ªdodge! Dodge! Aghhh, jump, jump, jump¡ªoh no, oh no¡ª¡±


    Five years old. Loud. Relentless. Completely invested.


    I sighed. "Lina, what are you doing?"


    She bounced on the balls of her feet, gripping my sleeve with every moment of tension, nearly yanking my arm out of its socket.


    "I''m practicing, duh! If Bobo fights, I have to be ready to cheer him with all my might."


    Rhyzar chuckled beside me, arms crossed, completely unfazed. His Warforged Golden Ape stood in front of Bobo, its massive frame towering over him, waiting.


    Bobo?


    Poised. Ready.


    And¡­ mildly distracted by Lina¡¯s screaming.


    His ear twitched, and he shot me a look.


    I could practically hear the exasperation in his eyes.


    I sighed, ruffling Lina¡¯s hair. ¡°Lina. Breathe. You¡¯re gonna pass out before they even start.¡±


    She gasped dramatically. ¡°I can¡¯t breathe, Akul! This is life or death!¡±


    Rhyzar snorted. ¡°For who?¡±


    Lina blinked, then frowned. ¡°Uhhh¡­ for my heart?¡±


    I groaned. Rhyzar outright laughed.


    Bobo just cracked his knuckles, tail flicking behind him.If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    "Enough talk. Time to fight"


    Then the Warforged Golden Ape moved.


    A blur. A force of nature.


    Bobo¡¯s pupils contracted.


    The fist came fast¡ªbut he was faster.


    He rolled with the punch. Absorbing the force. Twisting his body with the impact rather than against it.


    Lina squealed.


    ¡°Oh my gosh, oh my gosh, he¡¯s like¡ªlike a¡ªlike a¡ª¡±


    ¡°Leaf in the wind?¡± I muttered.


    She gasped. ¡°YES! A leaf in a HURRICANE!¡±


    Bobo lunged forward. A feint. A flicker of movement, baiting a reaction.


    The Warforged Golden Ape didn¡¯t take the bait.


    Didn¡¯t need to.


    It brought its arm down¡ªa crushing arc of raw power.


    A split second.


    Bobo twisted mid-air, tail snapping to anchor himself, momentum redirecting.


    The fist brushed past his fur.


    A perfect dodge.


    Not by luck.


    By calculation.


    I exhaled.


    Rhyzar let out a low whistle. ¡°Damn.¡±


    His ape took a step back, its expression shifting. Not just watching now.


    Assessing.


    This wasn¡¯t just improvement.


    This was instinct.


    Bobo wasn¡¯t just reacting.


    He was reading the fight.


    The Warforged Golden Ape lifted its hand.


    Then¡ªvanished.


    Lina screamed.


    ¡°Akuuuuul, he DISAPPEARED¡ª¡±


    I gritted my teeth. ¡°Lina, please¡ª¡±


    A downward kick. Faster than before.


    This wasn¡¯t a test anymore.


    This was real.


    Bobo¡¯s ears twitched.


    And before I could even think¡ª


    He stepped in.


    The kick descended¡ª


    Bobo twisted, pressing his hands against the Ape¡¯s leg¡ªredirecting.


    The force of the attack slammed into the ground, cracking the dirt.


    But Bobo?


    Untouched.


    Lina grabbed my arm. ¡°DID YOU SEE THAT?¡±


    Rhyzar smirked. ¡°Heh. Kid¡¯s learning.¡±


    His ape straightened, eyes locking onto Bobo.


    And for the first time¡ª


    It nodded.


    Approval.


    Lina lost her mind.


    She jumped into my arms, kicking wildly. ¡°HE¡¯S SO COOOOOOL! BOBO YOU¡¯RE THE STRONGEST MONKEY IN THE UNIVERSE¡ª¡±


    Bobo grinned.


    Then crossed his arms, puffing his chest.


    Rhyzar laughed. ¡°Oh great. Now he¡¯s gonna be insufferable.¡±


    I sighed. ¡°Yeah. Thanks, Lina.¡±


    She gasped. ¡°I only speak facts!¡±


    Bobo thumped his chest dramatically.


    Rhyzar¡¯s ape smirked.


    Then raised a single hand.


    An invitation.


    Bobo blinked.


    Then¡ª


    He stepped forward.


    The fight wasn¡¯t over.


    But Bobo wasn¡¯t just surviving anymore.


    He was growing.


    Not by brute force.


    Not by overwhelming power, yet.


    But by understanding.


    By knowing.


    And that?


    That was even more terrifying.


    That afternoon, we spent it at the enclosure, checking on the other monkeys. At first, returning had been uneasy. I hesitated. They hesitated.


    But now?


    Now they greeted me with their usual energy¡ªa rush of bodies, playful bites, excited hoots. Even Bobo was like the king of the juveniles now, after I had properly introduced him.


    My parents still kept me busy. Helping at the enclosure. Playing with Lina. Joining family meals. The days blurred together, a mix of sweat, training, and small moments of normalcy.


    Except¡ª


    Now, there was something new.


    Something unexpected.


    Something that needed me just as much as Bobo had.


    ¡°Akul!¡±


    A familiar voice snapped me out of my thoughts.


    Chia.


    She jogged toward me, grinning wide, hair bouncing with each step. ¡°Let¡¯s go check on Marshmallow!¡±


    I blinked. ¡°Marshmallow?¡±


    She huffed, crossing her arms. ¡°You can¡¯t just keep calling him ¡®the boar.¡¯ He needs a name!¡±


    ¡°Marshmallow?¡± I repeated, incredulous.


    ¡°What?¡± She pouted. ¡°He¡¯s all soft and fluffy now!¡±


    I pinched the bridge of my nose. ¡°Chia¡­ he¡¯s a boar.¡±


    ¡°Exactly! And he¡¯s my boar now, so his name is Marshmallow.¡±


    I opened my mouth¡ªthen closed it.


    I wasn¡¯t winning this one.


    ¡°¡­Fine.¡±


    She beamed. ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡±


    With Bobo trailing behind, we made our way back toward the healing chamber.


    The air inside was warm, thick with mana from the recovery array pulsing softly along the walls.


    And at the center¡ª


    Was Marshmallow.


    Not the Marshmallow we brought home yesterday, broken and charred. This was a totally renewed Marshmallow.


    After i saw it I stopped in my tracks.


    Chia¡¯s breath hitched.


    Bobo tensed.


    Marshmallow had changed.


    Gone was the frail, twisted frame.


    Gone were the jagged deformities, the unnatural warping.


    What stood before us was something else entirely. Something well taken care of, something well-fed.


    His frame had filled out¡ªdense muscle layered beneath smooth, reinforced skin. His coat, once patchy and scarred, had transformed into a thick, coarse hide that shimmered faintly in the mana-rich air. His back, which had once been hunched in deformity, was now straight, broad, powerful.


    His tusks had regrown¡ªbut not wildly. They curved forward in perfect symmetry, sharp, strong, and controlled.


    And then, there were his eyes.


    Once bloodshot and lifeless, now gleaming with intelligence. Awareness.


    Chia exhaled slowly. ¡°¡­Wow.¡±


    I stepped forward cautiously.


    Marshmallow¡¯s ears twitched.


    His gaze locked onto me.


    A silent recognition passed between us.


    This wasn¡¯t the same dying creature we had rescued.


    This was something else.


    Something stronger.


    Something reborn.

 Chapter 31: A Silent Understanding, A Flicker of Fire

    The afternoon sun stretched long shadows across the enclosure as we made our way toward Marshmallow¡¯s pen. Monkey chatter echoed through the trees, distant and unimportant.


    Beside me, Chia bounced on her heels, barely containing herself. "I bet he looks even better today! Maybe fluffier! Maybe even bigger!"


    "Chia, he¡¯s a boar, not a pillow."


    She huffed. "I know that! But he is my Marshmallow, and Marshmallows are soft and fluffy!"


    Bobo snorted from my shoulder, shaking his head.


    I glanced at him. "Something to say?"


    Bobo puffed up his chest, adjusted his fur, held his tiny palm behind his back like he was someone important.


    Chia clapped. ¡°Wooooow, Bobo! You look so cool!¡±


    Bobo grinned,  with a single step he flipped in the air, and landed back on my shoulder, looking very pleased with himself.


    I groaned. "Now you''re feeding his ego."


    Chia giggled. "Oh, come on! Let him have his moment!"


    I rolled my eyes, but the smile was already there.


    Despite everything¡ªdespite how much had changed in the past few weeks¡ªsome things never did.


    As we reached the reinforced pen, Jaro was already there, leaning against the railing, arms crossed. His sharp gaze flicked toward us. "Figured you¡¯d show up soon."


    I nodded. "How¡¯s he doing?"


    Jaro exhaled through his nose. "Better. Eats well. Stays alert. But he¡¯s still wary. Won¡¯t take food from anyone¡¯s hand. Doesn¡¯t let anyone get too close."


    Chia frowned. "Awww, but he looked so calm yesterday!"


    Jaro raised an eyebrow. "That was because he was on the brink of death, little Chia."


    She winced.


    I sighed. "So, since he woke up, he''s been on edge."


    Jaro nodded. "Can¡¯t blame him. Woke up in a new place, surrounded by strangers. And from the place I heard he came from¡­ If it were me, I wouldn¡¯t trust anyone either."


    He wasn¡¯t wrong.


    I looked past him, toward the pen. "Can I go in?"


    Jaro studied me for a long moment. "You sure?"


    I met his gaze. "Yeah."


    He grunted. "Alright. Move slow. If he gets agitated, I step in."


    Chia tugged my sleeve. "Be nice, okay?"


    I shot her a dry look. "Yeah, because I was totally planning on scaring him."


    She stuck her tongue out.


    Bobo patted my head like he was the one reminding me to behave.


    I sighed and stepped through the gate.


    Inside the pen, the air was still. Straw covered the ground, a shaded area sat in the corner, and a water trough rested near the back wall.


    And at the center¡ª


    Marshmallow.


    Not the same broken creature we¡¯d found. His frame had filled out, his hide thick with reinforced muscle. His tusks curved in sharp, clean arcs¡ªcontrolled, powerful.


    But his eyes¡­


    His eyes still carried that deep, guarded caution.


    I took a slow step forward.


    His ears flicked. His body tensed.


    I didn¡¯t reach for him. Didn¡¯t speak. Just let him see me.


    His nostrils flared.


    Another step.


    His hooves shifted. A sharp exhale through his nose.


    Bobo, still perched on my shoulder, let out a small chitter. Not a threat. Not a challenge.


    Just like a... hello there.


    Marshmallow¡¯s gaze flicked toward him.This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.


    Bobo tilted his head. Then, ever so slowly, he lifted his tiny hands holding a tiny piece of dry fruit, and mimicked the way I usually held food out to him.


    Like he was offering the fruit to Marshmallow.


    Marshmallow didn¡¯t react. Didn¡¯t move.


    But he was watching.


    Carefully.


    I took another step.


    My hand hovered near his side¡ªslow, deliberate.


    Marshmallow¡¯s breathing hitched.


    For a second, I thought he might bolt¡ª


    Then, my fingertips brushed against his hide.


    A pulse of warmth surged from my palm, flowing into him.


    And¡ª


    His entire frame relaxed.


    Like something in him recognized the energy. Like something deep within him remembered.


    His breathing steadied.


    His muscles unwound.


    A quiet huff escaped him.


    What that was, I didn¡¯t know.


    Something like¡­ understanding.


    Maybe I was imagining it.


    I swallowed and pressed my hand flat against his side.


    ¡°¡­You know, don¡¯t you?¡± I murmured.


    A softer huff.


    Behind me, Chia sucked in a breath. "Akul¡­"


    I turned slightly, catching her wide, glistening eyes.


    "He knows," she whispered, something between awe and relief in her voice.


    Bobo let out a small, pleased grunt.


    Jaro, watching from the gate, crossed his arms. "Huh."


    I raised an eyebrow. "What?"


    He shrugged. "I''ve been trying to get near him all morning, but he never let me."


    I turned back to Marshmallow.


    His eyes met mine.


    No fear.


    No hesitation.


    Just quiet, steady understanding.


    This wasn¡¯t a bond yet.


    But in this moment?


    That didn¡¯t matter.


    Marshmallow knew.


    And no matter how long it took¡ª


    I¡¯d make sure he never had to feel alone again.


    I knew exactly who could help.


    Chia hesitated at the gate, fingers curling around the wooden railing. Her eyes flicked between me, Marshmallow, and Jaro, her usual energy dimmed¡ªsomething careful in its place.


    "Can I¡­?" she asked, voice softer than usual.


    I nodded. ¡°Yeah. Just go slow.¡±


    Marshmallow shifted as she stepped inside. His ears flicked toward her, muscles tightening¡ªnot aggressive, not afraid, just¡­ wary.


    She crouched low, mirroring my earlier approach. "Hey, big guy," she murmured, voice warm, steady. ¡°You¡¯re looking so much better today.¡±


    He didn¡¯t move.


    Chia took another step. Her hand hovered inches from his thick hide.


    His body tensed. A ripple of unease.


    I placed my palm against his shoulder, sending a steady pulse of energy through him. "Easy," I murmured. "It¡¯s just Chia."


    Marshmallow exhaled sharply.


    Then¡ª


    He stilled.


    Chia¡¯s lips parted slightly as she brushed her fingers against his side¡ªslow, deliberate. Her touch traced a path across his coarse fur, something soft in her eyes.


    Something that made my chest feel strangely tight.


    "You remember me, don¡¯t you?" she whispered. "I knew you would."


    No doubt in her voice. Just quiet certainty.


    Bobo let out a small approving huff from my shoulder.


    Jaro, watching from the gate, arched an eyebrow. ¡°Huh. That¡¯s rare.¡±


    I glanced at him. "What is?"


    He nodded toward Chia. ¡°You¡¯re lucky; at the rate I was progressing this morning, I never expected to see this day.¡±


    Chia grinned, her fingers curling slightly against Marshmallow¡¯s fur. "We¡¯re going to take good care of you, okay? You¡¯re safe now."


    Marshmallow rumbled low in his chest.


    Was that a positive answer?


    Well, it definitely wasn''t a rejection.


    Maybe something in between.


    Chia¡¯s gaze flicked toward me. ¡°But¡­ there¡¯s still no fire.¡±


    She was right.


    Despite everything¡ªthe recovery, the healing, the growth¡ªMarshmallow¡¯s body was still missing the most defining trait of his kind.


    A fireboar should have had a burning ridge of flames running from head to tail.


    Even if he wasn¡¯t fully restored, there should¡¯ve been something. A spark. A flicker.


    But there was nothing.


    Chia sighed, rubbing her arms. "If only my energy wasn¡¯t magma-infused, but just pure fire¡­ I could have helped him."


    I turned toward her. "What do you mean?"


    She hesitated. "My trait, don''t you remember? It lets me infuse objects or living things with explosive energy. But¡­ it¡¯s really, really difficult to cultivate."


    I frowned. "Difficult how?"


    She pursed her lips. "Normal mana doesn¡¯t easily convert into my type of energy. If I had fire-based resources, I could generate more. But right now?" She lifted her hand, a faint wisp of reddish energy flickering across her fingers before sputtering out. "I don¡¯t have much to spare."


    A thought clicked.


    "What if we use what you have?" I asked.


    She blinked. "Huh?"


    "You infuse him with your energy. I¡¯ll use my ability to help him absorb and process it. Even if it¡¯s not a lot, maybe it¡¯s enough to trigger something."


    Her eyes widened. "But my energy is unstable. What if¡ª"


    "I¡¯ve got it under control," I said. "Don¡¯t you trust me?"


    Her cheeks flushed.


    I smirked.


    She huffed, crossing her arms. "Fine! But if something explodes, it¡¯s your fault."


    I stepped closer to Marshmallow.


    He was watching now. He could feel something was coming.


    I placed my palm against his hide. "Let¡¯s do this."


    Chia exhaled sharply. Then, she pressed her hand against his side, directly across from mine.


    For a moment¡ªnothing.


    Then¡ª


    Still nothing.


    I frowned. "Tia?"


    She didn¡¯t look up. Her brows furrowed, her palm pressing more firmly against Marshmallow¡¯s side.


    I waited.


    And waited.


    And¡­


    Nothing.


    "Uh¡­ did you start yet?" I asked.


    "I''m trying," she muttered, frustration creeping into her voice.


    I glanced at her hand. No glow, no surge of energy, no response from Marshmallow.


    Absolutely nothing.


    I raised an eyebrow. "Are you sure you''re¡ª"


    "YES, AKUL. I¡¯M SURE."


    I flinched at the sharpness in her voice.


    She exhaled heavily, pulling back and shaking out her hands. "Hold on. Let me focus."


    With a small motion, she summoned her artifact.


    The floating box of sweets appeared before her, softly pulsing with her mana.


    Chia closed her eyes, concentrating.


    A long pause.


    Then¡ªher eyes snapped open.


    Her face fell.


    "Oh."


    I frowned. "Oh, what?"


    "Oh, silly me," she said, rubbing her forehead. "I totally forgot¡ªmy ability only works on things connected to my artifact."


    I blinked. "Meaning?"


    She sighed dramatically. "Meaning I can''t infuse him with my energy."


    My stomach sank. "Wait¡ªwhy not?"


    She gave me an exasperated look. "Because I don¡¯t have a contract with him! My trait only lets me enhance things bound to me. He¡¯s not my summon."


    I stared at her.


    She stared back.


    I deadpanned. "So you need to make a contract with him."


    She nodded. "Yeah. Otherwise, no dice."


    "Then let¡¯s do that."


    "What, now?" she gaped.


    "Yeah. Right now."


    Her mouth opened. Closed. Opened again.


    "...But¡ªI mean¡ªI haven¡¯t even¡ª"


    I raised an eyebrow.


    She groaned, slapping her hands over her face. "Ugh. You¡¯re impossible."


    I grinned. "And?"


    She peeked through her fingers, pouting. "...And I guess I should have seen this coming."


    Bobo chittered excitedly from my shoulder.


    Marshmallow blinked slowly, as if somehow knowing what was about to happen.


    I stepped back, folding my arms. "So? What are we waiting for?"


    Chia dropped her hands, exhaling sharply.


    Then¡ª


    She straightened her shoulders.


    And her fingers curled into fists.


    "Alright," she muttered. "Let¡¯s do this."

 Chapter 32: Absolutely Not (You Two Are Insane).

    Chia huffed, rolling her shoulders. ¡°Alright. Let¡¯s do this.¡±


    I nodded. ¡°Good. Do you have the materials?¡±


    Silence.


    She blinked. ¡°...Materials?¡±


    I gave her a flat look. ¡°Yeah. The stuff you need for the ritual.¡±


    More silence.


    She tilted her head. ¡°What stuff?¡±


    I sighed, rubbing my temples. ¡°Chia. You do know that forming a contract isn¡¯t just touching the boar and making a wish, right?¡±


    Her face scrunched up. ¡°Wait, what? But you just touched Bobo and¡ª¡±


    I cut her off with a sharp look. ¡°Nobody knows why that happened the way it did. Not me, not my parents, not even the researchers. It¡¯s not normal.¡±


    She frowned. ¡°So¡­ what is normal?¡±


    I exhaled. ¡°For starters, you need materials to help align your mana with his. Especially since he¡¯s an adult beast with a strong will and an unclear affinity.¡±


    I started listing on my fingers.


    ¡°First, fire spirit stones. Magma spirit stones if you can get them. Both would be ideal.¡±


    She nodded slowly.


    ¡°Second, array materials. We need to paint a proper bonding array, which means specialized ink infused with mana-conductive properties. Not just any ink will do.¡±


    Her brows furrowed.


    ¡°Third, a stabilizing catalyst. Bonding an already-mature beast is a lot harder than forming a contract with a newborn. If the mana doesn¡¯t sync properly, it could¡ª¡±


    ¡°Explode?¡± she deadpanned.


    I stared at her.


    She groaned. ¡°Of course. Of course it could explode.¡±


    I ignored that. ¡°And last, a guidance medium. Something to bridge the gap between your mana and his. Normally, that would be a blood sample, but considering his mutation history¡­¡± I trailed off.


    Her face had slowly drained of color.


    I raised an eyebrow. ¡°You¡­ have all that, right?¡±


    Chia didn¡¯t respond.


    A long pause.


    Then, very softly¡ª


    ¡°...I was not prepared for this.¡±


    I resisted the urge to facepalm.


    She shook her head quickly. ¡°No, no, no, wait! It¡¯s fine! We can get those things, right? I mean, how much could it possibly¡ª¡±


    She stopped mid-sentence.


    Her eyes widened.


    Realization hit her like a runaway cart.


    A slow, painful breath. ¡°...Akul.¡±


    ¡°Yeah?¡±


    ¡°How expensive are these things?¡±


    I didn¡¯t answer right away.


    I didn¡¯t need to.


    The way she buried her face in her hands told me she already knew.


    I sighed. ¡°Look, don¡¯t stress about it yet. My mother said she¡¯d help you, right? If she¡¯s already going this far, maybe she factored in the cost of materials, too.¡±


    Chia peeked through her fingers. ¡°You think?¡±


    I shrugged. ¡°Only one way to find out.¡±


    She groaned, dragging her hands down her face. ¡°Ughhhhh.¡±Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.


    I smirked. ¡°C¡¯mon. Let¡¯s go see my mother.¡±


    Bobo chittered from my shoulder, looking way too amused.


    Marshmallow snorted softly from his enclosure.


    And Chia?


    She let out the longest, most dramatic sigh of her life.


    ¡°¡­I am so bad at being a summoner.¡±


    I was the first to race home, with Chia right on my tail, but our plans soon hit a hard wall.


    And it was a wall I never saw coming.


    My mother turned, arms crossed.


    Uh-oh.


    ¡°Explain,¡± she said.


    Chia and I froze.


    Bobo, sensing incoming doom, immediately sat down and tried to look small.


    ¡°¡­Explain what?¡± I asked, playing dumb.


    Her eyes narrowed. ¡°Oh, I don¡¯t know, Akul. Maybe explain why my son and his equally reckless friend thought they could just rush into a bonding ritual without a single ounce of preparation?¡±


    Chia shifted beside me, shrinking under my mother¡¯s glare. ¡°Uh¡­¡±


    Mom wasn¡¯t done. She stepped forward, voice calm¡ªbut that kind of calm. The dangerous kind.


    ¡°Do you have the materials?¡± she asked.


    I opened my mouth.


    She raised a hand. ¡°The proper materials, Akul. Not just anything you think might work. Do you have them?¡±


    I closed my mouth.


    Her gaze snapped to Chia. ¡°Do you have your Beast Space prepared?¡±


    Chia blinked. ¡°My what?¡±


    That was the wrong answer.


    Mom exhaled sharply, pinching the bridge of her nose.


    I took a cautious step back.


    She slowly turned back to me.


    ¡°So let me get this straight,¡± she said. ¡°You two¡ª¡± she gestured between us, ¡°¡ªdecided, completely unprepared, to perform a bonding ritual with a mature beast, who just recently recovered from severe mutations, without any of the necessary steps in place?¡±


    I hesitated. ¡°I mean, when you put it like that¡ª¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s the only way to put it, Akul!¡± she snapped.


    Chia flinched.


    Bobo flinched.


    ¡­I flinched.


    Then, out of nowhere¡ª


    She turned to Bobo.


    ¡°And you!¡±


    Bobo¡¯s ears perked. He pointed to himself.


    ¡°Yes, you!¡± My mother threw up her hands. ¡°Why is it that whenever something reckless happens, you¡¯re right in the middle of it?!¡±


    Bobo frantically shook his head, then immediately turned¡ªand pointed straight at me.


    I blinked. ¡°Excuse me?!¡±


    Bobo let out an exaggerated chitter, dramatically waving his little hands as if to say, Him! It was all him!


    Chia gasped. ¡°Bobo, you snitch!¡±


    Bobo shrugged.


    Mom gave me a slow, knowing look.


    I groaned, feeling betrayed by my own companion. ¡°Et tu, Bobo?¡±


    Bobo puffed up his chest like he had done his duty.


    Mom sighed, rubbing her temples. ¡°I swear, it¡¯s like dealing with three babies.¡±


    Chia cleared her throat. ¡°¡­I think what Akul¡¯s mom is trying to say is that we should probably¡ªuh¡ªwait?¡±


    ¡°Wait? Wait! Yes, Chia. You should wait. You should also prepare. You should also think!¡± My mother let out a slow, deliberate breath, collecting herself. ¡°There is a procedure for these things. A process. Do you even understand why?¡±


    Chia frowned. ¡°To¡­ make sure it works?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s part of it.¡± Mom folded her arms again, expression softer now, but firm. ¡°More importantly, it ensures both parties are ready. The tamer and the beast.¡±


    Chia bit her lip.


    ¡°The ritual isn¡¯t just about forming a bond¡ªit¡¯s about synchronization. Without it, the connection can be unstable. Weak. Dangerous.¡± My mother sighed, rubbing her temples. ¡°Marshmallow is not ready. You are not ready. And this¡ª¡± she gestured vaguely at the two of us, ¡°¡ªwas a disaster waiting to happen.¡±


    Silence.


    Chia looked down, guilt creeping across her face.


    I scratched the back of my head. ¡°¡­So, uh. What now?¡±


    Mom exhaled. ¡°Now, we do things properly.¡±


    I resisted the urge to groan.


    ¡°First,¡± she continued, ¡°Chia needs to create her Beast Space.¡±


    Chia blinked. ¡°That¡¯s¡­ inside my artifact, right?¡±


    ¡°Yes. That¡¯s the foundation of your connection. If you don¡¯t have a proper space built, your bond will be weak, and your beast won¡¯t have a stable place to recover or cultivate.¡±


    Chia hesitated. ¡°How do I¡­ make one?¡±


    Mom¡¯s expression softened. ¡°Chia, how have you been cultivating your artifact up until this point?


    Chia puffed up her cheeks. ¡°Easy! I just feed it!¡±


    Mom blinked. ¡°¡­Feed it?¡±


    Chia held up her artifact¡ªher floating, pastel-colored box. ¡°Yup! Every night before bed, I imagine stuffing it with mana like I¡¯m baking a super-delicious treat. I picture layers¡ªlike a cake! First, the mana base, then the thick, gooey center, then¡ª¡±


    She clapped her hands. ¡°BOOM! I wrap it all up with a warm, toasty glaze of Magma energy and let it ¡®bake¡¯ overnight!¡±


    Silence.


    I rubbed my temple. ¡°¡­You¡¯ve been baking your artifact?¡±


    Chia grinned. ¡°And it¡¯s working!¡± She opened the box. A tiny, molten candy floated up, flickering with unstable energy. ¡°See? Freshly made!¡±


    Bobo squinted at it, then immediately turned away.


    Mom exhaled. ¡°Well¡­ it¡¯s unconventional, but if it works¡­¡±


    Chia beamed. ¡°Of course it works! Good food makes everything better!¡±


    I sighed. This girl is unbelievable.


    Mom¡¯s expression was stuck somewhere between disbelief and mild horror.


    "I heard many thing in my life but this... Well Chia, I can only say that you will have to figure out your own way of building your beast space, something you''ll have to learn through cultivation and experience. But I can help guide you through the basics."


    Chia perked up slightly. "Oh! That''s great! That means we can still¡ª"


    "After you''re ready," Mom interrupted.


    Chia deflated.


    I sighed. ¡°And what about Marshmallow?¡±


    Mom¡¯s gaze flicked toward the enclosure. ¡°He needs to be fully stable. That means more recovery time. More observation. Right now, he¡¯s only just begun adjusting to his new body.¡±


    ¡°So¡­¡± Chia shifted awkwardly. ¡°We can¡¯t do anything yet?¡±


    ¡°Not yet.¡±


    Silence again.


    Then¡ª


    Chia clapped her hands together. ¡°Well, that¡¯s fine! That just means I have time to train and get stronger!¡±


    I blinked.


    Mom blinked.


    Bobo blinked.


    Then, my mother chuckled. ¡°That¡¯s the right mindset, at least.¡±


    Chia beamed.


    I sighed in defeat.


    Mom ruffled my hair. "You have a good friend, Akul. Just¡­ try not to let her follow you off a cliff next time."


    Chia gasped, looking offended. ¡°Excuse me! I¡¯m very responsible!¡±


    Bobo chittered something under his breath as he smirked.


    Chia pointed at him. ¡°You stay out of this!¡±


    Mom sighed, rubbing her temples again. ¡°I need tea.¡±


    I patted her arm. ¡°You deserve it.¡±


    She huffed. ¡°That, and maybe a break from you troublemakers.¡±


    Chia grinned. ¡°We¡¯re not troublemakers. We¡¯re problem solvers.¡±


    Mom gave her a look.


    Chia immediately hid behind me.


    I sighed.


    This was going to be a long process.

 Chapter 33: Dreams, cultivation, and... Friends?

    The night air was cool. A gentle breeze rustled through the trees, carrying the scent of damp earth and fresh grass. The sky stretched above us, deep and endless, speckled with stars.


    Chia stood at the doorway, arms folded, rocking on her heels. She wasn¡¯t leaving yet. Not really.


    She was stalling.


    I leaned against the doorframe, waiting.


    Finally, she spoke.


    ¡°Hey, Akul¡­be honest. Do you think I¡¯m weird?¡±


    I blinked. ¡°¡­What?¡±


    She huffed, turning to face me fully. ¡°I said, do you think I¡¯m weird?¡±


    That wasn¡¯t what I expected.


    I rubbed the back of my neck. ¡°I mean¡­ yeah. Obviously.¡±


    "Ouch..."


    Her fist hit my arm way too fast.


    ¡°Akul! You¡¯re supposed to comfort me, not make fun of me!¡±


    I laughed, shaking out my arm. ¡°Ow, okay, okay! Relax, will you?¡±


    She pouted.


    I smirked. ¡°Besides, you walked right into that one.¡±


    Another punch.


    I sighed. ¡°Alright, alright. What¡¯s this about? Is it¡­ the way you cultivate?¡±


    She hesitated. ¡°¡­Maybe.¡±


    I studied her face. She wasn¡¯t just being dramatic this time. Something was bothering her.


    I leaned back, thinking. ¡°Why do you care as long as it works?¡±


    She let out a small sigh. ¡°I don¡¯t know. I just¡­ I do.¡±


    Silence stretched between us.


    Then¡ª


    ¡°¡­How do you cultivate?¡± she asked, tilting her head slightly.


    I raised an eyebrow. ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    ¡°I mean, how did you create your Beast Space?¡±


    Ah. So that¡¯s what this was about.


    I shrugged. ¡°My father taught me to visualize myself as a painter. When I cultivate, I imagine a brush in my hands, and I use mana to paint the space inside my artifact. That¡¯s how I shape it. That¡¯s how I build it.¡±


    She blinked, eyes widening. ¡°That¡¯s so cool.¡±


    I smirked. ¡°I know.¡±


    She rolled her eyes. ¡°Show-off.¡±


    Then, her expression dimmed slightly.


    ¡°¡­Sadly, my dad doesn¡¯t have a technique like that.¡±


    I frowned.


    Chia¡¯s family was different from mine. Her parents were awakened, sure¡ªbut they were commoners. They never went to an academy. Never had elite training. Their contracts were simple, and their traits weren¡¯t particularly special.


    Her father had a D-grade trait. Her mother, an E-grade trait.


    Neither of them had the knowledge or resources to teach her advanced techniques.


    And she knew that.


    I stayed quiet.


    She exhaled, staring up at the sky. ¡°That¡¯s why I want to go to the academy.¡±


    I glanced at her.


    She wasn¡¯t just saying it. She meant it.


    ¡°I want to learn,¡± she continued. ¡°I want to get stronger. I want to see what¡¯s out there¡ªwhat¡¯s beyond this city.¡± Her hands curled into small fists. ¡°I don¡¯t want to stay here forever, Akul.¡±


    I nodded slowly. ¡°Then go for it.¡±


    She looked at me, startled.


    I shrugged. ¡°If that¡¯s what you want, then do it.¡±


    She hesitated. ¡°¡­There¡¯s an academy open day next month, right?¡±


    ¡°Yeah.¡± I nodded. ¡°You should go. Check out what each academy has to offer. You can even apply for enrollment.¡±


    She bit her lip.


    Then¡ª


    ¡°Would you come with me?¡±


    I tensed.


    The question was casual. Simple.


    But something in her voice made it feel heavier.This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.


    I exhaled, looking away. ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡±


    Her shoulders stiffened.


    I rubbed the back of my neck. ¡°I have plans.¡±


    She stayed quiet.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know if an academy fits into them,¡± I admitted.


    Still, silence.


    But then¡ª


    I nudged her. ¡°Hey.¡±


    She glanced at me.


    I smirked. ¡°You never know. Maybe we¡¯ll see each other there anyway.¡±


    She let out a small chuckle. ¡°Yeah. Maybe.¡±


    I grinned. ¡°Besides, no matter what, we¡¯ll always be friends, right?¡±


    She blinked.


    For a moment, she didn¡¯t respond.


    Then¡ª


    ¡°¡­Yeah.¡±


    She repeated the words softly, almost like she was testing how they tasted.


    But something about the way she said it wasn¡¯t happy.


    It was¡­ something else.


    I didn¡¯t think much of it.


    Instead, I patted her shoulder. ¡°Chia, you¡¯re my best friend. No matter where you go, you¡¯ll always have a place here. That¡¯s never gonna change.¡±


    She smiled.


    Happy. But sad.


    I didn¡¯t get it.


    And before I could ask¡ª


    ¡°Alright! I should go before my dad sends out a search party.¡± She spun on her heel, flashing a grin. ¡°Goodnight, Akul!¡±


    And just like that, she was gone.


    I watched her go, exhaling slowly.


    Something about that conversation stuck with me.


    I wasn¡¯t sure what.


    But for now¡ª


    I shook my head.


    It was time to cultivate.


    The magic light flickered softly against the walls of my room. Shadows danced, stretching and shifting as I sat cross-legged on my bed, grimoire hovering before me.


    I exhaled, closing my eyes.


    Focus.


    Mana flowed through my veins, feeding into the visualization¡ªthe same visualization I had done hundreds of times before.


    The grimoire took shape in my mind. The cover, smooth yet firm beneath my fingers. The spine, stitched with precision. The pages, crisp, unmarked yet infinite in potential.


    Perfect.


    My artifact was perfect.


    And yet¡ª


    Something was wrong.


    I could feel it.


    No matter how many times I visualized it, no matter how much mana I poured into refining its presence, my artifact wouldn¡¯t reach its next stage.


    It was stuck.


    I was stuck.


    A cycle. A loop.


    Over and over and over¡ª


    Frustration flared in my chest. My concentration wavered, the image in my mind flickering. My mana rippled, destabilizing.


    I exhaled sharply, and like that I lost my visualization.


    Why?


    Why wasn¡¯t it enough?


    I had done everything right. Hadn¡¯t I?


    So why wasn¡¯t it complete yet?


    A soft knock pulled me from my thoughts.


    I blinked, glancing toward the door just as it creaked open.


    Father stepped inside, silent as ever. He didn¡¯t speak. Didn¡¯t ask.


    He just pulled up a chair and sat down.


    Waiting.


    I sighed, rubbing my temples. ¡°You¡¯re going to say something, aren¡¯t you?¡±


    He raised an eyebrow. ¡°Do I need to?¡±


    I let out a humorless chuckle. ¡°Guess not.¡±


    His gaze flicked to my artifact¡ªstill hovering in the air, pages shifting restlessly.


    ¡°You¡¯re frustrated,¡± he noted.


    I huffed. ¡°Yeah. No kidding.¡±


    He leaned back, arms crossing. ¡°Tell me.¡±


    I hesitated. Then¡ª


    ¡°I don¡¯t get it,¡± I admitted. ¡°I¡¯ve been visualizing my artifact every day. I know every detail of it. Every page, every stitch, every texture. It¡¯s perfect. But it won¡¯t move forward. It won''t reach its true materialization.


    Father didn¡¯t react immediately. He just watched me. Studied me.


    Then¡ªhe exhaled through his nose, shaking his head.


    ¡°That doesn¡¯t surprise me.¡±


    I frowned. ¡°What¡¯s that supposed to mean?¡±


    Instead of answering, he asked, ¡°Which is easier¡ªbuilding a house from scratch or finishing one that¡¯s already half-built?¡±


    I blinked. ¡°Uh¡­ finishing, right?¡±


    Father smiled faintly. ¡°Wrong.¡±


    I narrowed my eyes. ¡°How does that make any sense?¡±


    It''s because you''re missing the point.


    "If you build a house from scratch, you know its foundation. You know where every brick goes. But if you inherit a half-built house? You don¡¯t know its weaknesses. You don¡¯t know if it¡¯s stable or if someone else¡¯s mistakes are hidden inside it. Finishing it is harder than starting fresh."


    I stared at him. ¡°¡­Okay, and?¡±


    He tapped his finger against the arm of his chair. ¡°Your grimoire is at the semi-manifestation stage. When it first took form, it was also at the same stage. Meaning¡ªit wasn¡¯t built from scratch.¡±


    Realization clicked.


    ¡°It¡¯s¡­ half-built.¡±


    Father nodded. ¡°And now, you¡¯re trying to finish something that wasn¡¯t fully your own from the start.¡±


    "Son, Each summoner possesses a unique artifact that emerges from their soul based on their personality, willpower, and desires."


    "Some artifacts are inherited through bloodlines, while others are born from personal experiences, dreams, or even traumas."


    "Some purely from ones nightmares."


    I couldn¡¯t accept that. ¡°But I know it. I¡¯ve been cultivating it every day. I¡¯ve visualized every part of it.¡±


    Father tilted his head slightly. ¡°Really?¡±


    I hesitated.


    ¡°¡­What¡¯s on the hundredth page?¡± he asked.


    I opened my mouth¡ªthen stopped.


    He continued. ¡°What¡¯s the exact thickness of the cover? How many fibers make up the binding? How does the spine feel when it bends? How much weight does it have in your hand? The true weight, not just the one you imagine?¡±


    I stared at him.


    I knew the general shape. The structure. The appearance.


    But the details?


    The depth?


    I swallowed.


    Father leaned forward. ¡°You¡¯re looking at your artifact with your eyes, Akul. But an artifact isn¡¯t just a tool. It¡¯s not something you own.¡±


    His gaze sharpened.


    ¡°It¡¯s part of you.¡±


    His words settled deep in my chest.


    A quiet weight.


    ¡°If you closed your eyes right now,¡± he continued, ¡°could you feel every corner of it? Every inch? Every imperfection?"


    "Could you be the artifact?¡±


    I clenched my fists.


    ¡°You¡¯re trying to shape something outside of yourself,¡± he said. ¡°But your artifact isn¡¯t separate from you. It¡¯s an extension of your soul. If you can¡¯t find yourself inside of it¡ªif you can¡¯t become it¡ªthen you¡¯ll never reach the next stage.¡±


    I exhaled slowly.


    Father leaned back. ¡°That¡¯s why reaching Bronze Rank is difficult. Finding a beast is easy. Making a contract? Doable. With the right resources, even the weakest can summon something powerful.¡±


    He met my gaze.


    ¡°But developing yourself? Strengthening the foundation of who you are? Understanding your own soul and materializing it into an artifact? That¡¯s the hard part.¡±


    I stayed quiet.


    ¡°Most people can¡¯t even accept who they truly are,¡± he murmured. ¡°And that¡¯s why they never make it past Common Rank.¡±


    I swallowed, who i truly was?


    Father stood up, stretching slightly. ¡°Your cultivation isn¡¯t just about closing your eyes and playing with mana. Dig deeper. Find yourself. Then¡ªput what you find into your artifact.¡±


    He placed a hand on my head, ruffling my hair lightly. ¡°You¡¯ll get there, kid. Remember, put yourself into the artifact.¡±


    I scoffed. ¡°Since when do you give pep talks?¡±


    He smirked. ¡°Since my reckless son decided to overwork himself trying to force progress instead of understanding it.¡±


    I sighed, rubbing my temples. ¡°Yeah, yeah. I get it.¡±


    He chuckled, turning toward the door. ¡°Good.¡±


    Just before leaving, he glanced over his shoulder.


    ¡°Oh, and one more thing.¡±


    I raised an eyebrow.


    He smirked. ¡°Your mother told me about Chia¡¯s cultivation method.¡±


    I blinked. ¡°Chia?¡±


    He nodded. ¡°The way she approached it¡­ it was instinctual. She didn¡¯t overthink it, didn¡¯t try to force it. She just did what felt right.¡±


    I frowned slightly. ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    ¡°She created her own way, without even realizing it,¡± he said, crossing his arms. ¡°Where most would struggle, hesitate, or second-guess, she just did. It wasn¡¯t about techniques or following steps¡ªit was natural. Like breathing.¡±


    I exhaled, shaking my head. ¡°That¡¯s just how she is, I guess.¡±


    Father chuckled. ¡°That¡¯s exactly why it worked. She didn¡¯t stop to wonder if it was right¡ªshe just made it hers. That¡¯s rare, Akul.¡± He gave me a pointed look. ¡°She¡¯s a natural.¡±


    I scowled. He laughed.


    ¡°One advice,  stop thinking of cultivation as a chore.¡± His voice was quieter now, but firm. ¡°It¡¯s not about what you create. It¡¯s about who you become.¡±


    The door shut behind him.


    I sat there.


    Thinking.


    Then, slowly, I looked at my artifact.


    Really looked at it.


    And for the first time¡ª


    I stopped trying to force my artifact into being something I imagined.


    Instead, I let it show me what it truly was.

 Chapter 34: My child.

    No matter how many times I turned it over in my head, it just wouldn¡¯t click.


    Father made it sound simple. Stop forcing it. Cultivation isn¡¯t about what you create, it¡¯s about who you become.


    Yeah. Right.


    Easier said than done.


    I had sat there for hours, staring at my grimoire, waiting for some kind of revelation¡ªsome hidden meaning to just¡­ appear.


    It didn¡¯t.


    Eventually, exhaustion won. I didn¡¯t even remember falling asleep.


    The next morning, I woke up groggy but refreshed.


    Routine kicked in.


    Bobo first. Always Bobo first.


    He sat perched on my desk, waiting, tail flicking. The moment I placed food in front of him, he dug in, scarfing down every bite.


    I placed a hand on his back, activating Growth Factor, helping his body absorb every last bit of nutrients.


    It was working.


    Every day, he grew. Not just in size, but in strength. In awareness.


    I watched his muscles tense, his posture straighten. His fur had taken on a healthy sheen, and his frame was more solid than ever.


    Pride swelled in my chest.


    Then, morning routine.


    Wash. Dress. Make sure Bobo wasn¡¯t eating something he wasn¡¯t supposed to.


    Everything was normal.


    Until I went downstairs.


    And found her.


    The soft clink of porcelain. The low hum of conversation. The warm scent of tea drifted through the morning air.


    And there she was.


    Anya.


    Seated on the veranda, drinking tea with my mother, chatting, laughing¡ªcompletely at ease.


    The sun had barely crested the horizon, but they sat there, bathed in golden light, as if nothing in the world could bother them.


    I blinked. ¡°... Miss Anya?¡±


    Her sharp green eyes flicked to me, and a wide smile spread across her lips.


    "Ah! My favorite nephew. You can just call me Auntie."


    She stood gracefully, arms opening. Before I could react, she had pulled me into a hug, firm yet warm.


    I sighed. "Do you have other nephews?"


    "Exactly, I don''t. Which makes you my one and only favorite nephew."


    Mother chuckled behind her teacup. ¡°He¡¯s growing fast, isn¡¯t he?¡±


    Anja pulled back, tilting her head as she gave me a once-over. ¡°Hmm. He is.¡± Her eyes sparkled with amusement. ¡°A little taller. A little sharper. Still grumpy in the mornings, though.¡±


    This felt weird. I''m sure I just met her a week ago or so, but she is acting like we have known each other our whole lives.


    I rolled my eyes, sitting down across from them. ¡°Did you just come to bully me, or¡­?¡± I would just play along for now.


    She smirked. ¡°Well, I do enjoy that. But no.¡±


    She set her cup down, fingers lacing together.


    ¡°The reason I came to visit today¡­¡± Her voice turned more deliberate. ¡°I have a proposition.¡±


    I paused.


    Mother sipped her tea. Said nothing.


    I straightened. ¡°A proposition?¡±


    Anja¡¯s smile deepened.


    ¡°Something that might interest you.¡±


    Anja leaned forward, lacing her fingers together.


    ¡°The proposition is simple.¡±Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.


    Her voice was smooth, confident, but her eyes gleamed with something sharper¡ªsomething calculating.


    ¡°I want you to work for me.¡±


    I frowned. ¡°Work for you?¡±


    She smirked. ¡°Not as an employee. As a partner.¡±


    I blinked. ¡°A¡­ partner?¡±


    Mother hummed, sipping her tea. Watching. Waiting.


    Anja barely spared her a glance. ¡°I¡¯m not interested in hiring you to do errands. I want us to start a business together.¡±


    She paused. Then, almost too deliberately, she added¡ª


    ¡°You won¡¯t be in the public eye. I¡¯ll handle Everything.¡±


    Mother¡¯s smile didn¡¯t waver, but something about it sharpened. Anja noticed. Of course she noticed. That was for her benefit.


    ¡°Why me?¡± I asked slowly.


    Anja exhaled, settling back in her seat. ¡°Because I recognize a golden opportunity when I see one. And you, dear nephew, are sitting on one of the biggest opportunities I¡¯ve ever come across.¡±


    I raised an eyebrow.


    She chuckled. ¡°Oh, don¡¯t play dumb. You know exactly what I mean.¡±


    I didn¡¯t say anything.


    She tilted her head. ¡°You improved Bobo. Drastically. What if we could do that for other beasts?¡±


    My chest tightened.


    She didn¡¯t stop. Her voice was smooth as silk. ¡°You don¡¯t understand just how much people would pay for something like that.¡±


    "The truly rich? Really wealthy people? They don¡¯t buy their beasts from public markets or open auctions. They get them through exclusive channels, private rings, and tight networks."


    She tapped her fingers against the table. ¡°And I happen to have access to one such channel.¡±


    A chill ran down my spine.


    Anja smiled. ¡°I could bring you clients willing to spend fortunes on a single beast. And not just gold¡ªresources. Things you can¡¯t just buy with money. Artifacts. Materials. Exclusive items. In this world, value is traded for value. And what you have?¡± She gestured vaguely toward me. ¡°It¡¯s worth more than you realize.¡±


    I swallowed.


    ¡°How much is¡­ a lot of money?¡±


    Her grin widened. ¡°Let¡¯s take Bobo, for example.¡±


    I stiffened.


    ¡°The first time I saw him, I estimated his worth at around twenty to thirty thousand gold.¡±


    I nearly choked. ¡°Thirty¡ªwait, what?¡±


    She smiled. ¡°That was before. Before the concoction. Before the Growth Factor. Before he turned into what he is now.¡±


    Her eyes gleamed, watching my reaction.


    ¡°Now? Bobo¡¯s estimated value is at least one hundred and fifty thousand gold.¡±


    Silence.


    I stared at her.


    She smirked. ¡°And that¡¯s just for a physical-type beast. Imagine if we applied the same process to a rare elemental beast¡ªone that already starts at hundred thousand gold.¡±


    My heart pounded.


    Anya leaned in slightly. ¡°This isn¡¯t just about selling enhanced beasts. This is about positioning ourselves in a network where resources flow beyond simple wealth. It¡¯s about leverage. Connections. Access to things most people can¡¯t even dream of obtaining.¡±


    She shrugged. ¡°And of course, the money¡¯s nice, too.¡±


    I exhaled slowly.


    This was¡­ bigger than I thought.


    Anja sat back, waiting.


    Mother set her teacup down.


    Then, finally, she spoke.


    ¡°Get to the point, Anja.¡±


    She was smiling.


    That dangerous smile.


    Anja chuckled. ¡°I just did.¡±


    Mother¡¯s fingers drummed lightly against the table. ¡°And what exactly do you want from him?¡±


    Anja didn¡¯t hesitate.


    ¡°His talent. His ability. And, more importantly¡ª¡±


    Her eyes locked onto mine.


    ¡°His time.¡±


    My time ?


    Anya had left.


    And she left with a knowing smile, giving me space to think. But her words lingered, threading through my thoughts like vines I couldn¡¯t untangle.


    I turned to my mother. ¡°Mom¡­ what do you think?¡±


    She took a slow sip of her tea, eyes half-lidded as if weighing something far heavier than the question I asked.


    Then, she set the cup down, exhaled softly, and looked at me¡ªreally looked at me.


    She reached out, brushing a stray lock of hair from my forehead before resting her warm palm against my cheek. It was brief, just a second, but I felt it... something weird in my heart.


    Then, she spoke.


    ¡°Anya is a good woman,¡± she said first. ¡°But she is also a very ambitious one.¡±


    I frowned. ¡°So, you don¡¯t trust her?¡±


    Mom hook her head. "I have known her for many years, from a place far beyond this one. Honestly, I was surprised that someone like her resides in a city like this."


    "It''s not about trust. It''s about understanding who she is. Anya sees opportunities before anyone else, and when she finds something promising, she doesn''t hesitate to act on it."


    I''m sure she had spent days planning everything out. She is far from the reckless type, like you."


    That¡­ was true.


    "She is a woman who will calculate every action and every decision; she will play every scenario over and over again. She doesn''t take risks; she takes opportunities¡ªwell-calculated opportunities."


    Mother tapped her fingers against the wooden table. ¡°She¡¯s right about one thing, though. And those people she¡¯s referring to? They aren¡¯t from our city.¡±


    I blinked. "Wait... not our city? Then who might they be?"


    She gestured toward the window, toward the horizon beyond the enclosures, beyond the city.


    ¡°Akul, this world is vast. You¡¯ve barely even seen our city, but beyond it?


    It¡¯s not just a web of towns and villages. It¡¯s more like¡­¡± She tapped her fingers on the table. ¡°Islands in an untamed sea.¡±


    I tilted my head. ¡°Islands?¡±


    She nodded. ¡°Think of the snow globes your sister plays with. Each city is like one¡ªself-contained, with its own rules, its own dangers, its own stability.¡±


    She paused, her expression darkening. ¡°But outside of them? There¡¯s only wilderness. Wildlands. Places where beasts, magic, and things far worse dictate the rules."


    A small chill ran through me.


    Mother continued. ¡°Cities are ranked. C-grade, B-grade, A-grade. The higher the grade, the stronger its economy, its defenses, its resources.


    C-grade are hard to live in, but they are still full of humans. Our city?¡± She leaned back, exhaling. ¡°B-grade. Not weak, but not the strongest either.¡±


    I absorbed that slowly.


    ¡°Then¡­ Anya¡¯s business dealings would be with A-grade cities?¡±


    Mother¡¯s lips pressed together in thought. ¡°Likely. And that means the level of resources she spoke of is far beyond what most people here can imagine.¡±


    Gold was one thing. But resources? Those were the real currency.


    Mother sighed, shaking her head. ¡°The benefits are real, Akul. I won¡¯t deny that. And because Anya is taking on the risk, it isn¡¯t a direct threat to us. But¡­¡±


    She looked me in the eyes now.


    ¡°You are growing up.¡±


    Something in her expression softened.


    I didn¡¯t miss the way her gaze lingered, the way she studied me like she was seeing something she hadn¡¯t noticed before.


    Then, with slow, careful movements, she cupped my face in her hands.


    Her thumbs brushed against my cheekbones¡ªgentle, grounding.


    ¡°And soon,¡± she murmured, ¡°you will have to start making decisions like these on your own.¡±


    I felt weird, uncomfortable, not by her actions, but by her word.


    ¡°This is a good opportunity,¡± she admitted. ¡°But is it the right one? Is it safe? Is it something you truly want to do?¡±


    She leaned forward, pressing a light kiss to my forehead before pulling back.


    ¡°Think, my boy.¡±


    Her voice was softer now, but no less firm.


    ¡°Think.¡±


    The weight of her words settled over me.


    I swallowed, my fingers brushing against my artifact at my side.


    I realized that I can''t forever depend on my mom or even my dad. This was my decision to make.

 Chapter 35: My First Business, My First Job?

    I thought about it.


    Not too deeply.


    I wasn¡¯t one to sit around dissecting every possible outcome like a scholar lost in their books. But I wasn¡¯t reckless, either.


    Money. Resources. Growth.


    Those were the three things that mattered.


    But most importantly, I was promised safety and freedom.


    We weren¡¯t struggling. My family lived comfortably. But there were things I wanted for Bobo¡ªthings I knew could push his progress even further.


    Rhyzar had already warned me: our training was going to move to the next level soon. Harder. More specific. Focused on refining every part of Bobo¡¯s body to create a solid foundation.


    And resources?


    Resources made all the difference.


    Not just for Bobo.


    For Marshmallow. For Chia.


    For me.


    A surplus of wealth meant more options. If I had the means, I could help the people around me. Maybe even give Chia the kind of financial security she didn¡¯t have.


    Because if I wanted to stand on my own¡ªnot just as my father¡¯s son, or Rhyzar¡¯s apprentice¡ªI needed every edge I could get.


    The idea sat in my mind, growing roots.


    I turned to my mother.


    ¡°I want to do it.¡±


    She studied me for a moment.


    Then, she nodded.


    ¡°Alright.¡±


    That afternoon, Anya returned.


    She was all smiles, all confidence. She looked at me with the sharp eyes of someone who already knew the answer before I even spoke.


    ¡°Good choice, nephew.¡±


    I exhaled. ¡°You already knew I¡¯d say yes, didn¡¯t you?¡±


    She winked. ¡°Smart boys make smart decisions.¡±


    Well, let''s get down to business.


    The contract was placed on the table. A long scroll, thick with magical inscriptions woven into the parchment itself. It pulsed faintly, reacting to the presence of mana in the air.


    I wasn¡¯t the only one reviewing it.


    Mother read it first, scanning every word with the sharp gaze of someone who wasn¡¯t just a protective parent, but a woman who had lived through the ups and downs of business herself.


    Father followed, taking a steadier, more methodical approach. He wasn¡¯t as quick, but he was thorough.


    Then, Rhyzar.


    His presence had been quiet until now, lounging against the wall as if this was all just an amusing distraction. But when Anya unrolled the contract, he finally moved, stepping forward with that ever-present, lazy smile that never quite reached his dangerous eyes.


    Anya had tensed¡ªjust a little¡ªwhen she noticed him.If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


    Now, she was composed again.


    ¡°Sir Rhyzar,¡± she greeted with polite respect. ¡°I didn¡¯t realize you and Akul were acquainted.¡±


    Rhyzar¡¯s smirk widened. ¡°Apprentice of mine.¡± He gestured toward me lazily. ¡°Gotta be here when someone does business with my apprentice.¡±


    Anya¡¯s mind moved fast¡ªI could practically see the gears turning behind her eyes.


    She flicked a glance at Bobo, then back to Rhyzar. ¡°I should have realized. That Golden Body Ape was a dead giveaway.¡±


    I blinked. She caught that connection fast.


    Mother chuckled. ¡°She¡¯s sharp, isn¡¯t she?¡±


    Rhyzar hummed. ¡°Sharp people are useful. Dangerous, too.¡±


    Anya took it as a compliment.


    Then, we got to the real discussion.


    The contract was fair. More than fair, actually.


    Anya would handle everything¡ªthe logistics, the clients, the negotiations. I would be protected under her name, and to the maximum of her ability, it was her role to keep my involvement in the business as discreet as possible.


    There were also minor inconveniences¡ªtraveling to other cities if a request required it, for example¡ªbut nothing truly risky.


    I skimmed the final lines again.


    The magic contract meant it couldn¡¯t be broken easily. Once signed, I was committed¡ªunless Anya herself voided it, or if both parties agreed to dissolve it under fair terms.


    But I had the power to accept or deny any client.


    I looked up.


    ¡°I¡¯m in.¡±


    Anya smiled. ¡°Then let¡¯s seal it.¡±


    I placed my hand over the parchment. Anya did the same. Our mana pulsed, intertwining as the contract absorbed our intent. The inscriptions glowed, burning the agreement into existence.


    It was done.


    I exhaled.


    Then¡ª


    ¡°I have your first client ready.¡±


    I nearly choked. ¡°What?¡±


    She grinned. ¡°You heard me. I already arranged everything.¡±


    Mother sighed. ¡°Anya¡­¡±


    She raised her hands. ¡°What? He agreed, didn¡¯t he? No better time than now to start making money.¡±


    I rubbed my temples. ¡°Okay. What is it?¡±


    She leaned forward, her smirk widening.


    ¡°You just need to hatch an egg.¡±


    Silence.


    I blinked. ¡°...What?¡±


    ¡°You heard me.¡± She crossed her arms. ¡°It¡¯s a peculiar beast egg. The client wants it hatched under specific conditions. That¡¯s your job.¡±


    I hesitated as I opened my mouth. Then I close it.


    Then, I turned to Rhyzar.


    His expression?


    Mild amusement.


    Yeah. Of course.


    I sighed.


    This was going to be interesting.


    I barely had time to process signing my first contract before Anya hit me with that.


    Hatching an egg.


    It sounded¡­ simple. Too simple.


    And yet, nothing Anya did was ever simple. Something about the way she smirked told me there was more.


    A lot more.


    I crossed my arms. ¡°Alright. What¡¯s the catch?¡±


    She leaned back, swirling her tea with deliberate slowness. ¡°Oh, no catch. Just a desperate client, very, very low expectations, and an egg that no one knows how to hatch.¡±


    I frowned. ¡°So¡­ I¡¯m just a last-ditch attempt?¡±


    ¡°Exactly.¡± She beamed. ¡°That¡¯s why it¡¯s perfect.¡±


    Rhyzar chuckled, shaking his head. ¡°Low expectations mean high reward.¡±


    Anya snapped her fingers. ¡°Bingo. If you fail, no one cares¡ªclient was expecting failure anyway. If you succeed?¡± Her grin widened. ¡°Let¡¯s just say we¡¯ll be charging very generously.¡±


    That made sense.


    A safe first job.


    That means I shouldn¡¯t feel pressured to succeed.


    But then she kept talking.


    And that¡¯s when things got interesting.


    ¡°This isn¡¯t just some ordinary rare egg.¡± She set her teacup down, locking eyes with me. ¡°This one is special.¡±


    I arched an eyebrow. ¡°Special how?¡±


    She tapped a finger against the table. ¡°It¡¯s not from here.¡±


    I blinked. ¡°What?¡±


    I almost laughed. Almost. But something in her eyes stopped me. She was too smug. Too pleased. Like she was about to drop something big. And then¡ªshe did.


    ¡°This egg¡ª¡± She paused, letting the moment hang before dropping the bomb.


    ¡°¡ªcame from the Abyssal Tower.¡±


    Silence.


    The air shifted.


    Even Rhyzar¡ªwho had been lounging like none of this mattered¡ªsat up just a little straighter.


    Mother¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡°Anya¡­¡±


    Father exhaled through his nose.


    I swallowed.


    The Abyssal Tower.


    A world in itself.


    A place that existed within our own but was not our own. A domain of strange, chaotic forces. A realm where laws of nature bent, where creatures that shouldn¡¯t exist did.


    It wasn¡¯t somewhere you visited.


    It was somewhere you survived.


    If this egg came from there¡­


    I looked at Anya.


    She was way too excited about this.


    I chose my words carefully. ¡°You¡¯re saying this egg came from the Abyssal Tower?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s exactly what I¡¯m saying.¡± She folded her hands. ¡°And the client? They don¡¯t even know what¡¯s inside. But she told me it was a creature from the 9th floor."


    Rhyzar let out a low whistle. "That¡¯s insane."


    I leaned back. ¡°Okay. That¡¯s¡­ a lot.¡±


    Anya laughed. ¡°I know! Isn¡¯t it exciting?¡±


    I deadpanned. ¡°That is not the word I¡¯d use.¡±


    She shrugged. ¡°Point is, it¡¯s rare. It¡¯s unknown. And no one has been able to hatch it so far. Which is why the client is throwing their last gamble.¡±


    ¡°And if we do hatch it?¡±


    She grinned.


    "We name our price... you understand what that means?"


    Rhyzar smirked. ¡°Heh.¡±


    Mother sighed, shaking her head. ¡°I knew this wouldn¡¯t be simple.¡±


    "Father didn¡¯t speak, but the way he stroked his beard told me he was deep in thought."


    I exhaled. ¡°Alright. When do I see it?¡±


    Anya¡¯s eyes gleamed.


    ¡°Oh, my dear nephew.¡±


    She stood, stretching.


    ¡°You¡¯ll see it first thing tomorrow.¡±

 Chapter 36: Two Names, One Life

    Excitement buzzed under my skin.


    Tomorrow, I¡¯d be working with the egg. An egg from the Abyssal Tower.


    Even if I didn¡¯t meet the client directly, just knowing that I¡¯d be dealing with something so rare, so impossible, made my mind race. If Anya was serious about this being the start of something bigger, then¡­


    This wasn¡¯t just a job.


    It was an opportunity.


    To make money. To build connections. To carve a place for myself in a world where power and influence ruled.


    Anya had already secured her foothold. Now, she was betting on me to do the same.


    I exhaled slowly.


    That was for tomorrow.


    Tonight?


    I had work to do.


    I settled into my usual position, legs crossed on the cool floor, my artifact floating in the air before me.


    The grimoire pulsed faintly, absorbing mana on its own, just as it always did.


    Mana had never been the problem.


    I was the problem.


    I closed my eyes.


    This time, I wouldn¡¯t force it. I wouldn¡¯t just push mana into the artifact and hope for results.


    I¡¯d try something different.


    My father had told me to understand myself.


    So, I started simple.


    My name.


    Akul.


    The syllables echoed in my mind, solid, familiar. A foundation.


    My age.


    Twelve.


    My appearance.


    I pictured myself, detail by detail. My hair. My eyes. My height. The shape of my hands. The slight scar on my knee from when I fell chasing Bobo through the enclosure.


    Bit by bit, I constructed myself inside my own mind.


    A reflection of me, built with mana, crafted with thought.


    Slowly, the image of myself became clearer.


    And then¡ª


    Memories began to surface.


    They came gently at first, like waves lapping at the shore.


    Moments of laughter at the dinner table.


    Bobo curled up on my shoulder, snoring softly.


    My father¡¯s warm, steady voice guiding me through my first lesson in cultivation.


    Precious things.


    Important things.


    The core of who I was.


    I wanted to pull away, to focus, to control it¡ª


    But I stopped myself.


    I remembered my father¡¯s words.


    Don¡¯t force it.


    Just like Chia had done¡­


    I would let it flow.


    So, I let the memories pour into me.


    And they did.


    Rushing forward, like a flood breaking through a dam.


    But then¡ª


    They started to change.


    Memories I didn¡¯t recognize.


    Memories that weren¡¯t mine.


    They drifted in, unfamiliar yet¡­ familiar.


    Flashes of a world I didn¡¯t know.


    A place filled with towers of light and glass.


    Hands that weren¡¯t mine, holding something strange¡ªflat, glowing, covered in letters.


    A voice, speaking words I had never heard before, and yet¡­ I understood them.


    Who was this?


    Who was I?


    The images kept coming, too fast to hold, too many to grasp.


    A different life.


    A different me.


    But instead of resisting¡ª


    I accepted them.


    I didn¡¯t question whether they belonged to me.


    I knew they did.


    Maybe not the me of now.


    But a me from before.


    Or a me from elsewhere.


    The moment I surrendered to that truth¡ª


    My grimoire reacted.


    Not subtly.


    Not slowly.Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.


    Vigorously.


    It pulsed. It surged.


    But the reaction wasn¡¯t happening outside.


    It was inside me.


    I wasn¡¯t just refining my artifact.


    I was refining myself.


    Becoming one with the grimoire.


    And the grimoire¡ª


    For the first time¡ª


    Began to truly recognize me back.


    The moment my grimoire recognized me¡ª


    It moved.


    Not with my command.


    Not by my will.


    It floated before me, pulsing with energy, flickering between real and ethereal¡ª


    And then, it vanished.


    It had entered me.


    It went deeper, deeper than it had ever gone before.


    A sharp inhale raked through my chest.


    Then¡ª


    The floodgates burst open.


    Not just memories.


    Knowledge.


    Words, concepts, images¡ªI didn¡¯t just remember them.


    I understood them.


    Gravity. Force exerted by mass, pulling objects toward its center.


    Neurons. The messengers of the brain, firing electrical signals to command the body.


    Algorithm. A structured set of rules designed for problem-solving and calculation.


    Upload. To transfer data from a local system to a broader network.


    Virtual Reality. A simulated world, crafted by code, designed to be experienced as if real.


    The words kept coming¡ª


    Flooding in, shifting, forming connections.


    Presidents. Elections. Governments. Empires.


    Hurricanes. Tsunamis. Epidemics. Wars.


    Economy. Trade routes. Stock markets.


    Airplanes. Satellites. Artificial intelligence.


    My breathing hitched.


    I wasn¡¯t just remembering a life.


    I was remembering a world.


    A world I had never seen.


    A world that had never existed here.


    A name flickered.


    A title.


    The Codex Eternal.


    The name of the game.


    The name of a world.


    My world?


    The memories became clearer.


    Not just concepts, but moments.


    The rush of a battlefield, issuing commands to troops of digital monsters.


    The strategy behind every move, analyzing strengths, weaknesses, affinities.


    The excitement of unlocking hidden evolutions, pushing creatures beyond their limits.


    The Codex Eternal.


    A game.


    A life.


    A reality I had once known.


    And as I grasped it¡ª


    Something inside me clicked.


    The grimoire inside me reacted.


    It wasn¡¯t just an artifact anymore.


    It wasn¡¯t just a tool.


    It was something more.


    Something that had always been waiting.


    Waiting for me¡ª


    To remember.


    I was¡­


    No.


    I am¡­


    I hesitated.


    The thought, the answer¡ªit was there, just beyond my reach.


    Like a name at the tip of my tongue.


    Like a face in a faded dream.


    It felt obvious, yet impossible at the same time.


    But then¡ª


    It clicked.


    Like a lock turning, like a door opening, like a floodgate breaking wide¡ª


    I was Luka.


    Luka.


    I was Luka.


    But I was also Akul.


    Two sides of the same life.


    One past, one present. One forgotten, one remembered.


    And now?


    Now I was watching.


    Not controlling.


    Not reliving.


    Watching.


    Like a bystander in my own memories, trapped between what was real and what was just a dream?


    Or maybe, just maybe¡ª


    There was no difference.


    Luka Vasiliev.


    That was my name.


    I had been born in Moscow, Russia, but my life had never been about one place.


    By the time I turned ten, my family had moved across Europe for my father¡¯s work, jumping from Germany to France, then finally settling in Spain.


    I never truly belonged anywhere.


    Until I found games.


    Competitive. Ruthless. Requiring precision, strategy, instinct.


    By fifteen, I was already climbing international leaderboards.


    By seventeen, I had been scouted.


    By eighteen, I was living in Seoul, South Korea, playing professionally in the world¡¯s most elite gaming scene.


    And then¡ª


    The Codex Eternal launched.


    The first fully immersive virtual reality MMO, designed with an unparalleled level of detail, boasting an adaptive AI-driven ecosystem, where every choice, every action, shaped the world.


    It wasn¡¯t just a game.


    It was a second reality.


    And I?


    I was its king.


    I saw myself now.


    Luka.


    Sitting in a sleek gaming chair, a visor covering my face.


    The glow of multiple monitors filled the dimly lit room, messages flooding my chat:


    ¡°Codex¡¯s top player is back!¡±


    ¡°Luka, teach me your beast fusion strat!!¡±


    ¡°GUILD RAID TONIGHT LET¡¯S GO!¡±


    A smirk curled on his lips, my lips.


    Even in the real world, I had been a legend.


    But inside The Codex Eternal?


    I had been God.


    I watched as Luka moved through the game world¡ª


    A world too familiar.


    It was a vast land of monsters, cultivation, ancient ruins, and wilderness zones between cities.


    Cities graded by rank.


    Cities built around unique resources, thriving off what their land provided.


    Where beasts weren¡¯t just companions, but foundations of power.


    Where artifact wielders shaped the world¡¯s future.


    A world of contracts.


    A world of summons.


    A world where beasts could be enhanced, evolved, reshaped¡ª


    The concept felt familiar.


    Why did the game feel so much like my world?


    Was I dreaming?


    Was this real?


    Had Luka been real?


    Had The Codex Eternal ever just been a game?


    Or was it something else entirely?


    One question completely took over my mind... Who am I?


    The scene shifted.


    I was Luka.


    I was moving through a world I knew better than my own.


    A world that stretched beyond horizons, filled with towering kingdoms, vast battlefields, and dungeons so deep they swallowed entire legacies whole.


    It was a game.


    But for me?


    It was more than that.


    I wasn¡¯t just a player. I was a ruler. A conqueror.


    And I led a guild that reshaped the very foundation of this world.


    Raiven.


    The name burned bright across every ranking board, every leaderboard, every whispered conversation in the depths of shadowed taverns and bustling trade hubs.


    I had built it from nothing.


    I still remembered the early days¡ªrecruiting misfits, no name characters,  but each had something unique that drew my attention.


    I trained them from nobodies into elites, turning a small band of underdogs into a superpower.


    We weren¡¯t just another guild.


    We were the guild.


    The strongest, the most feared, the most respected.


    When a World Event triggered, when a Mythic Boss spawned, when a Legendary Artifact was uncovered¡ª


    The world held its breath, waiting to see if Raiven would show up.


    Because if we did?


    It was ours.


    It was an open-world MMORPG, but nothing like the ones people casually played on their screens.


    This was Codex Eternal.


    A game so vast, so immersive, that it blurred the line between reality and fiction.


    A world where fortresses rose and fell overnight, where kings could be dethroned by a single strategic strike, where players weren¡¯t just warriors, but legendary figures shaping the course of history.


    Some ruled economies, controlling entire trade networks across continents.


    Some dominated politics, turning alliances into betrayals with a single message.


    Some became monsters, lone hunters who built their power in the darkest corners of the map, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.


    But me?


    I was a warlord.


    I had an army. A fortress. An empire.


    I wasn¡¯t just a name on a leaderboard. I was a force of nature.


    Artifacts were the heartbeat of the world.


    Weapons, armor, grimoires, familiars, every powerful player had something that set them apart.


    And at the top?


    A ranking system that dictated who truly ruled.


    The Codex Eternal Leaderboards:


    ? Strongest Artifacts ¨C Divine-tier weapons with game-breaking abilities.


    ? Top Players ¨C The deadliest, most skilled combatants in the entire game.


    ? Most Powerful Guilds ¨C The empires that shaped the world.


    ? Richest Players ¨C The economy kings who controlled entire markets.


    ? Most Feared ¨C Names that sent entire warbands fleeing.


    Raiven dominated every list.


    And my name sat at the very top.


    Not just as the strongest guild leader.


    But as the highest-ranked player in the world.


    I had an ability no one else had, a power that brought destruction to my enemies, a power that let me see through weaknesses, patterns, the very fabric of reality itself.


    My eyes.


    They felt familiar but also very different.


    The Eyes of the Abyss¡ª


    A skill that let me win.


    Always.


    I remembered standing on the walls of Fortress Raiven, my personal stronghold, overlooking an army that stretched beyond the horizon.


    Another guild had dared to challenge us.


    Foolish.


    They had siege weapons, war beasts, thousands of players marching under their banner.


    But numbers didn¡¯t matter.


    Strategy did.


    I saw every flaw in their formation. Every weak point in their approach.


    And when I gave the signal¡ª


    We obliterated them.


    Not a battle. Not a war.


    A massacre.


    And when the dust settled?


    They swore loyalty instead of seeking revenge.


    Because that was what Raiven was.


    You didn¡¯t beat us.


    You joined us.


    The memories shifted.


    The world blurred.


    And suddenly, I wasn¡¯t in my fortress anymore.


    I was standing at the entrance of the Final Dungeon.


    The end of Codex Eternal.


    A place no one had reached before. The final challenge. The celestial realm, the divine land of the gods, a place reachable only by ascending to the very top of the seven towers of power.


    A place rumored to hold the greatest secret in the game. A secret so dangerous, so world-breaking, that it was said the game¡¯s developers had hard-coded it to be impossible to clear.


    But I had made it.


    I had done the impossible.


    Not because I had to.


    Because I chose to.


    Because something inside me needed to see what was beyond.


    And as I stepped forward¡ª


    The memories shattered.


    The world cracked like glass.


    And then¡ª


    Darkness.


    Until I awoke.


    I gasped.


    The room spun.


    My heart thundered in my chest.


    My Eyes wide open.


    Where¡ª?


    I was lying in my bed.


    What¡­


    The...


    ¡­only thought one passed through my head!


    What¡­ the hell¡­ was that?

 Chapter 37: The Grimoires Full Materialization, a Complete Awakening.

    My breathing steadied.


    I was Luka.


    I was Akul.


    Two names, one life.


    It didn¡¯t matter which one I used¡ªbecause at the core, I was still myself.


    I didn¡¯t feel lost. I didn¡¯t feel unsure. If anything¡­ I had never felt this clear.


    Memories of a past life, the instincts of a top player, the strategies of a warlord¡ªthey had all settled into me. They weren¡¯t fighting for control. They weren¡¯t confusing me.


    They were just¡­ there. Part of me.


    I sat up, exhaling. The room was dim, but something was different.


    I turned¡ªand froze.


    The grimoire.


    It wasn¡¯t floating. It wasn¡¯t waiting to be summoned.


    It was sitting at the edge of my bed.


    Waiting for me.


    I swallowed. Slowly, I reached out, fingers brushing over the cover¡ª


    And the moment I touched it, everything changed.


    A pulse of energy. A surge, rushing through my arm like liquid fire.


    And then¡ª


    The grimoire glowed on its own.


    Its pages flipped rapidly, magic runes shifting, forming new text, new diagrams, new¡ª


    Bang.


    The grimoire shot closed.


    I held my breath.


    Because staring back at me, right in the center of the grimoire¡¯s cover¡ª


    Was an eye.


    Not a drawing.


    A real, living, pulsing eye.


    Gold and crimson, twisting in a yin-yang pattern. Two pupils within the same iris, moving in synchrony.


    Watching me.


    Not just an eye.


    A reflection.


    My hands shook as I stared at it.


    This¡­ This wasn¡¯t just a change.


    This was something more.


    I felt it¡ªdeep in my soul. The grimoire wasn¡¯t just an artifact anymore.


    It was alive.


    It had reached True Materialization.


    And it wasn¡¯t just responding to me.


    It was recognizing me.


    For the first time, truly, fully¡ªrecognizing me.


    A pulse.


    Not from the grimoire.


    From me.


    The pages flipped, ink bleeding across the parchment, rearranging itself, shaping something new. Something alive.


    A new ability.


    A power that wasn¡¯t just summoned.


    It was born.


    I swallowed hard as words formed before my eyes.


    ©¥©¥©¥ ¡ó ©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥ ¡ó ©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥ ¡ó ©¥©¥©¥


    Innate Ability Unlocked: Twin Soul mirror.


    A mirror does not deceive. A mirror does not pretend.


    The Twin Soul mirror does not simply reflect.


    To reflect something is to create its equal¡ªyet its opposite.


    What stands within the mirror is just as real as what stands before it.Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.


    The other half exists not as a copy, but as a truth¡ªrewritten.


    All things exist with balance. Light and dark. Creation and destruction. Order and chaos.


    The Twin Soul does not forge clones.


    It summons the inverse.


    ©¥©¥©¥ ¡ó ©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥ ¡ó ©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥ ¡ó ©¥©¥©¥


    I inhaled sharply.


    This¡­ This wasn¡¯t an ability to mimic. This wasn¡¯t an ability to create clone versions of something.


    I knew what this meant.


    This was real.


    If I mirrored a beast, I wouldn¡¯t create an illusion of that beast.


    I would create another one.


    An exact being¡ªbut reversed.


    If I mirrored a predator, I would create something not weak, not lesser¡ªbut different.


    A gentle, healing creature ¡ú turns into a predatory one that steals life force.


    A logical strategist ¡ú becomes a wild berserker.


    A noble and wise one ¡ú is now cunning and deceptive.


    Every aspect is inverted: element, morality, personality, instincts.


    Equal. But different. The same¡ªyet opposite.


    Twin Souls.


    Two sides of the same existence.


    And yet¡ªboth would be real.


    There was more to my new ability


    ©¥©¥©¥ ¡ó ©¥©¥©¥


    Level 1:


    A single Twin Soul can be made from any entity or being.


    The mirror creations are loyal to the ability holder in their own way.


    Only one Twin Soul may exist at a time per level. To summon another, the first must be relinquished¡ªforever. A life undone cannot be restored.


    Mirror Twin Souls cannot be destroyed. If defeated, they enter a state of recovery, slowly rebuilding themselves.


    Mirror creations can grow, develop, and progress like any normal living being.


    Mirror twins can only be created from beings of the same rank as the artifact.


    ©¥©¥©¥ ¡ó ©¥©¥©¥


    The weight of that sentence settled over me.


    Relinquished.


    Not dismissed. Not unsummoned.


    If I let go of a Twin Soul, it would be gone. Forever.


    Because it wasn¡¯t just an image.


    It was a real existence.


    And that meant¡ª


    If I evolved this power¡­


    I could bring forth more.


    I could summon multiple versions of reality, bending the balance of the world itself.


    I clenched my fists, my pulse racing. This was huge. But then¡ªa single thought sent a chill down my spine.


    To create was to commit. A Twin Soul wasn''t just a summon¡ªit was a life. And if I ever had to erase it¡­ it wouldn¡¯t be just a dismissal. It would be a death.


    Not just a skill.


    A choice.


    Every time.


    I exhaled slowly, staring at the words burning into the grimoire¡¯s pages.


    Twin Soul.


    A power that didn¡¯t just create.


    A power that defined.


    And I had only just begun to understand it.


    My heartbeat hammered.


    This¡­ was insane.


    I exhaled, trying to process it¡ªbut the grimoire wasn¡¯t done yet.


    A second page flipped open.


    A pulse of energy erupted from within me.


    Not from my hands.


    Not from my grimoire.


    From my eyes.


    A sharp pain lanced through my skull, like something had been forcefully unlocked.


    I clenched my teeth, pressing my palms against my forehead as the sensation surged¡ªoverwhelming, searing, reshaping me from the inside out.


    Then, the world split.


    I gasped, my vision shattering into something new, something vast, something¡­ unfathomable.


    I could see¡ª


    No.


    I could perceive.


    It wasn¡¯t just sight.


    It was understanding.


    I staggered forward, gripping the edges of my grimoire as it flipped open on its own, revealing two pages, side by side.


    There was an eye painted on those pages.


    Not just any eye¡ª


    A twin-pupiled gaze, swirling in a fusion of light and shadow.


    Golden radiance burned in one half.


    Abyssal crimson smoldered in the other.


    A balance of forces. A reflection of something primal.


    Then, the words appeared.


    ©¥©¥©¥ ¡ó ©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥ ¡ó ©¥©¥©¥


    Innate Ability Unlocked: Twin Eyes of Creation & Ruin


    Two eyes, two truths.


    One sees the birth of all things.


    One sees the death of all things.


    ©¥©¥©¥ ¡ó ©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥ ¡ó ©¥©¥©¥


    A gaze that sees beyond flesh.


    A sight that understands the essence of life itself.


    Divine Eye of Origin.


    ©¥©¥©¥ ¡ó ©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥ ¡ó ©¥©¥©¥


    Level 1 ¡ª Abilities upon activation:


    ¨C Biological Mastery: Full analysis of any beast or creature upon sight.


    ¨C Path to Perfection: Sees not just what something is, but what it could become. Every lifeform, every artifact, every structure¡ªits next stage of evolution is revealed.


    ¨C Foundation Insight: Breaks down the core strengths and weaknesses of any target, pinpointing exactly where improvements can be made.


    ¨C True master: Identifies the fastest, and most efficient path for evolution and advancement.


    ©¥©¥©¥ ¡ó ©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥ ¡ó ©¥©¥©¥


    Abyssal Eye of Ruin.


    ©¥©¥©¥ ¡ó ©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥ ¡ó ©¥©¥©¥


    Level 1 ¡ª Abilities upon activation:


    ¨C Illusion Shatter: No deception holds power before this eye. Falsehoods dissolve. Disguises unravel. Lies crumble.


    ¨C Essence Revelation: Sees the structural flaws in all things¡ªphysical, magical, and spiritual.


    ¨C Abyssal gaze: A wound suffered under this gaze does not heal naturally. Even magic struggles to restore what has been undone. Wounds fester, curses deepen, the very essence of recovery fights against itself.


    ©¥©¥©¥ ¡ó ©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥ ¡ó ©¥©¥©¥


    "One eye to create. One eye to destroy.


    One to build. One to break.


    One to see beginnings. One to see endings."


    I sucked in a breath as realization settled over me.


    These weren¡¯t just enhancements to my previous abilities.


    They were absolute.


    The Divine Eye of Origin wasn¡¯t just about observation¡ªit was comprehension at the deepest level. It let me see life in its purest form, to read and manipulate its structure like a sculptor molding clay.


    And the Abyssal Eye of Ruin¡­


    It wasn¡¯t just about unveiling hidden things.


    It was understanding the truth of their destruction.


    I could see weak points. Fault lines in armor, fractures in bones, inconsistencies in energy flow.


    Not just what something was.


    But what would break it.


    Creation and Ruin.


    Origin and End.


    Balance.


    I exhaled slowly.


    Then, I raised my gaze¡ª


    And for the first time, I looked at the world through my true eyes.


    This wasn¡¯t just an upgrade.


    This was a complete transformation.


    If my eyes were strong before, now they were something else entirely.


    They saw the world for what it truly was.


    No more tricks. No more lies. No more fake, no more stealth skills, no more misdirection.


    If someone tried to hide their true nature¡ªI would see it.


    If mana was being manipulated¡ªI would see it.


    If a beast was unnatural, cursed, or artificially strengthened¡ªI would see it.


    And this was just Level 1.


    What would happen when it evolved?


    What would I see then?


    My throat felt dry.


    My heart pounded.


    This¡­ this was too much.


    Too much, too fast¡ª


    But I wasn¡¯t afraid.


    I wasn¡¯t overwhelmed.


    Because I knew, deep down¡ª


    This was always meant to be mine.


    I wasn¡¯t Luka.


    I wasn¡¯t Akul.


    I was both.


    And I was ready.


    Tomorrow, Everything Changes.


    I exhaled.


    Slowly, the grimoire closed.


    The eye on its cover blinked once¡ªthen closed, as if satisfied.


    It didn¡¯t vanish.


    It just¡­ slept.


    Like it had found what it was looking for.


    I leaned back, staring at the ceiling.


    Tomorrow, I would be working with the Abyssal Egg.


    I had signed my first contract.


    I had taken my first step toward something bigger.


    But tonight?


    Tonight, I finally completed my first step towards bronze rank. And inside me, something truly special had awakened.


    I wasn¡¯t just a summoner.


    I wasn¡¯t just a cultivator.


    And the world¡ª


    Was about to find out.

 Chapter 38: Bobos Future

    I woke up feeling¡­ different.


    Not just rested. Not just energized.


    Accomplished.


    I exhaled slowly, letting the feeling settle. My body felt the same, but something deeper had changed.


    Last night, I had done something amazing.


    I turned my head¡ªand there it was.


    My grimoire.


    Not floating. Not waiting to be summoned.


    Just there.


    Resting on my bedside, its twin-pupiled eye shut, as if sleeping.


    I reached out, fingers brushing against the cover.


    It was warm. Not in temperature, but in something more. Like a living pulse. Like it had finally settled into its true state.


    A slow smile crept onto my lips.


    ¡°This wasn¡¯t just a minor breakthrough.


    This wasn¡¯t something anyone could do overnight.


    I had reached True Manifestation.


    A milestone. A defining moment in a summoner¡¯s journey.


    And I had done it at twelve.¡±


    I let out a slow breath.


    ¡°I really did it.¡±


    The thought settled deep in my chest.


    I had spent so long pushing, forcing, overthinking¡ªtrying to figure out the ¡®next step.¡¯


    But in the end¡ª


    I just had to let go.


    Chia¡¯s words echoed in my head. Her way of cultivation had been natural, effortless¡ªlike breathing. She never forced her growth. She just grew.


    And last night, when I stopped overthinking¡­


    Everything had fallen into place.


    Like a puzzle.


    Like it had always been waiting for me to see it.


    I thought of my father, his lessons, his quiet patience as he guided me through every stage of this journey.


    ¡°Stop thinking of cultivation as a chore. It¡¯s not about what you create. It¡¯s about who you become.¡±


    I finally understood what he meant.


    It wasn¡¯t just about my artifact reaching True Manifestation.


    It was about what I was meant to be.


    A step toward bronze. A step toward my future.


    A sign that I was on the right path.


    I sat up, running a hand through my hair.


    Then, I picked up my grimoire.


    The eye on its cover twitched.


    Then¡ªslowly, lazily¡ªit blinked open.


    Gold and crimson, swirling like a yin-yang, two pupils shifting within the same iris.


    Watching me.


    Recognizing me.


    I smirked. ¡°Morning.¡±


    It pulsed once in response.


    Yeah.


    We got this.


    I stretched, rolling my shoulders as I got ready for a new day.


    Bobo, curled up near the foot of my bed, twitched his tail at the movement, his golden fur catching the early sunlight.


    I smiled. ¡°Time to get to work.¡±


    The grimoire floated at my call, opening as I focused on my Divine Eye of Origin. A pulse ran through me¡ªthen the world sharpened.


    ¡°All right, Bobo. Let¡¯s see what you¡¯re made of, buddy.¡±


    I sat on the floor, legs crossed, my grimoire resting on my lap.


    The moment I activated my Divine Eye, a flood of information hit me. Not just numbers and stats. Blueprints of potential.


    Bobo¡¯s body unfolded before my vision¡ªthe past, the present, the potential future.


    All sorts of information flooded my mind.


    Lines of data. Layers of muscle, bone, and tissue. The intricate web of nerves firing signals through Bobo¡¯s body. The rush of mana flowing through his veins.


    Everything.Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit.


    A beast¡¯s fundamental structure¡ªlaid bare before me.


    ---


    Bobo¡¯s Biological Profile


    Species: Golden Body Monkey


    Rank: Common (Low-Tier) ¨C Nearing Mid-Tier Threshold


    Strength: Good


    Agility: High


    Endurance: High


    Mana Circulation: Abysmal


    Reflexes: Very Good


    Bone Density: High


    Muscle Efficiency: Average


    Bite Force: Average


    Claw Sharpness: Below Average


    Mana Channeling Efficiency: Poor


    Skill Proficiency: Very Good


    (Ratings range from Abysmal (1) ¡ú Poor (2) ¡ú Below Average (3) ¡ú Average (4) ¡ú Good (5) ¡ú Very Good (6) ¡ú High (7) ¡ú Excellent (8) ¡ú Outstanding (9) ¡ú Perfect (10))


    ---


    So that¡¯s how it works¡­ Each category had detailed breakdowns.


    Some things made sense. Bobo¡¯s agility and reflexes were already incredible¡ªthat much had been obvious from our sparring sessions. During training, he¡¯d focused on speed and reaction time while taking a beating from Rhyzar¡¯s ape.


    Battle Capabilities


    Claw Strength: Below Average (Capable of tearing through flesh but struggles against tougher exteriors.)


    Bite Force: Average (Capable of crushing bones but lacks sustained pressure.)


    Reaction Speed: High (Able to dodge and counter fast attacks.)


    Striking Power: Good (Strong enough to knock back opponents, but lacks concentrated force on impact.)


    Mana Circulation: Abysmal (Bobo¡¯s body struggles to channel mana efficiently. His internal pathways are underdeveloped, leading to poor energy flow.)


    After reviewing the first analysis, I paused. ¡°Bobo, your claws are sharp, but they lack the cutting force needed to pierce tougher enemies.¡±


    Bobo blinked, tilting his head.


    I smirked. ¡°Yeah, yeah, I know you¡¯re already strong. But let¡¯s make you stronger.¡±


    I focused my eyes on his claws, and more information flowed in.


    This¡­ was a lot.


    The Divine Eye of Origin wasn¡¯t just showing me strengths and weaknesses¡ªit was showing me the path forward. I could literally see how to push him beyond his limits¡­


    ---


    Improvement Plan ¨C Claws


    Problem: Not durable enough for heavy impact.


    Solution:


    1. Claw Endurance Training


    Daily wood-striking exercises against reinforced ironwood logs.


    After 50 strikes per hand, claws must be soaked in a Bone-Fortification Elixir made from Dire Wolf Bone Marrow & Black Iron Essence.


    2. Soaking Ritual


    Dip claws in Bone-Forging Serpent Oil twice a week.


    3. Nutrient Boost


    Consume Molten Fang Powder (reinforces keratin growth).


    Additional Resources:


    Drake Scale Powder: Sprinkle onto claws before sleep to slowly increase cutting power over time.


    Wyvern Bloodroot (Small Doses): Increases absorption rate of fortifying minerals.


    ---


    I nodded. ¡°With this, your claws should be able to pierce through even stone in a few months.¡±


    Bobo let out a soft chirp, clearly interested.


    ¡°All right, next¡ªmuscle development.¡±


    Every muscle, every fiber, every ligament was mapped out before me. If I wanted to push Bobo to the next level, I needed to target the right things.


    The Problem: ...


    Solution: ...


    Resource Consumption: ...


    Training Method: ...


    Everything was so detailed.


    There were many other aspects of Bobo¡¯s body I could analyze in detail¡ªlike jaw strength, bite force, or his extremely weak mana flow¡ªbut I could do that later. I wanted to circle back to something else that caught my attention:


    Bobo¡¯s skills.


    If my Divine Eye could analyze his body in such detail, then what about his abilities?


    I locked my gaze onto him. ¡°Show me the skills.¡±


    A surge of information flooded my vision.


    ---


    Current Skills


    Skill: Primal Surge


    Type: Beast Combat Skill


    Rank: Rare


    Proficiency: Very Good


    Description: The longer Bobo stays in battle, the stronger he becomes. His speed, strength, and reflexes gradually increase over time, reaching their peak after prolonged engagement. However, the effect is not infinite¡ªthere is a natural limit to how long he can sustain the boost before exhaustion sets in.


    ---


    I knew this skill well¡ªit made him harder to pin down in fights. But now that I could see it, I noticed something else:


    Potential Upgrades Detected


    Primal Surge (Advanced Form. Epic, locked): Requires specialized combat training and long-duration stamina conditioning.


    Berserking Rush ( Epic, locked): Requires aggression-focused training and high-adrenaline activation sequences.


    I blinked.


    Wait.


    So he could evolve his skills too?


    Saying that I was surprised felt like an understatement.


    A laugh bubbled up in my chest.


    This was crazy.


    This was amazing.


    Too many options. Too many possibilities. I wanted to unlock everything.


    I took a deep breath, forcing myself to slow down.


    ¡°One step at a time,¡± I muttered.


    Bobo tilted his head at me.


    I shook my head, smirking. ¡°We¡¯re gonna make you a monster, buddy.¡±


    He grinned, cracking his knuckles.


    But there was something even more important I needed to check:


    His evolution path.


    I exhaled and focused my Divine Eye again. ¡°Show me his evolution pathways.¡±


    The world blurred.


    Then¡ª


    Over 100 Possible Evolutions Detected.


    I froze.


    One hundred?!


    My vision was drowning in names and branching paths, like a massive family tree.


    ¡°No. No, no, no,¡± I whispered. ¡°This is too much.¡±


    I clenched my jaw. ¡°Refine it. Show me only the strongest options.¡±


    The list collapsed.


    Three names remained:


    1. Celestial Golden Body Ape (Golden Body Lineage ¨C Natural Growth Path)


    2. Heaven-Sundering Ape Overlord (Sky-Sundering Lineage ¨C Adaptive Evolution Path)


    3. World Breaker Ape Emperor (Breaker Lineage ¨C Pure Destruction Path)


    I exhaled.


    Okay.


    Now we were talking.


    Each of these¡­ these weren¡¯t just good evolutions. They were peak paths. The best possible versions of Bobo.


    I focused on the first:


    ---


    Celestial Golden Body Ape


    (Golden Body Lineage ¨C Natural Growth Path)


    Requirements:


    Muscle & Bone Density: Very High


    Reflexes: Excellent


    Battle Endurance: High


    Internal Mana Circulation: Must reach stable efficiency


    This was the natural evolution. The strongest version of what Bobo was meant to become if he followed the typical progression of his species. Balanced. Durable. A true warrior among apes.


    Then, I looked at the second:


    ---


    Heaven-Sundering Ape Overlord


    (Sky-Sundering Lineage ¨C Adaptive Evolution Path)


    Requirements:


    High-Level Battle Experience (Must defeat a superior-ranked opponent in a fair fight)


    Advanced Energy Circulation (Must successfully integrate elemental energy into body)


    Reflexes & Speed: Outstanding


    This one was¡­ different. It wasn¡¯t just a physical upgrade. It required battle experience and elemental adaptation. Meaning it would be smarter, faster¡ªless about brute strength, more about skillful domination.


    And finally¡ª


    ---


    World Breaker Ape Emperor


    (Breaker Lineage ¨C Pure Destruction Path)


    Requirements:


    Full-Body Optimization: Must reach near-perfection in every physical attribute


    Strength: Must be at or near maximum capacity


    Endurance & Resilience: Must reach perfection.


    Combat Mastery: Must develop advanced battle instincts beyond normal training


    I stared.


    This one¡­ This one was absurd. If I wanted Bobo to follow this path, I¡¯d have to push his body beyond anything I¡¯d ever imagined. He had to be flawless. Not just strong, not just fast¡ªperfect. Every muscle, every fiber, every instinct sharpened to the absolute limit.


    It was like crafting a living weapon.


    And if we failed?


    Then the path would be closed forever.


    I swallowed hard.


    This was the Breaker Lineage.


    A path of absolute destruction.


    I closed my eyes for a moment, letting the information settle.


    Golden Body¡ªsafest, strongest natural path.


    Sky-Sundering¡ªadaptable, flexible, skill-based path.


    World Breaker¡ªpure, unfiltered dominance.


    Which one was best?


    I didn¡¯t know yet.


    But I did know one thing:


    No matter what path Bobo took¡ª


    I was going to make sure he reached the top.


    I smirked, looking at him. ¡°What do you think, buddy?¡±


    Bobo started hopping around my room, almost giddy with excitement.


    He didn¡¯t care which path we chose. He just wanted to be strong.


    I exhaled. ¡°Then let¡¯s get to work.¡±


    No matter what we chose, there was one undeniable truth:


    Bobo was only at the beginning.


    And he had a long way to go.

 Chapter 39: The Little Menace.

    I heard her before I saw her.


    ¡°taka taka taka taka taka taka¡ª¡±


    The unmistakable sound of bare feet smacking against the floor at full speed. The sheer force of her tiny stampede shook the house like an approaching natural disaster.


    I barely had time to sit up before my door exploded open.


    ¡°LIIIIIFT OOOOOOOOFFF¡ª!¡±


    A blur of white and pink launched itself at me.


    WHAM.


    The air rushed out of my lungs as Lina collided with my stomach, tackling me back onto the bed with the force of a beast twice her size.


    ¡°GUAH¡ª¡±


    No mercy. No hesitation. She was already chomping on my sleeve, wiggling around like a wild animal marking its prey.


    ¡°AKUUUUUUUL!¡±


    Lina.


    She was on top of me, gripping the front of my shirt with both hands, eyes practically glowing in the dim morning light.


    I groaned, squinting against the sudden attack. ¡°Lina¡ªwhat¡ª¡±


    She wasn¡¯t listening.


    She bounced on me like my ribs were a trampoline.


    ¡°It¡¯s happening! It¡¯s happening, it¡¯s happening, IT¡¯S HAPPENIIIIING¡ª¡±


    She chomped down on my shoulder. Not hard. Not enough to hurt. But enough to make her point.


    ¡°Lina! What the hell?! What the¡ª?¡±


    ¡°Lina¡ªLINA¡ª¡± I gasped, struggling to breathe under the gremlin currently trying to eat me. ¡°What¡ªwhat is happening¡ª¡±


    ¡°AKUUUULLL!¡± she howled, rolling around on top of me, gripping her plush toy like a war trophy. ¡°TODAY! TODAY¡¯S THE DAY!¡±


    She wasn¡¯t even talking about anything specific. Just¡ªtoday.


    I groaned, shoving her off me slightly so I could actually see again. Her hair was an absolute mess, sticking out in every direction, and she was still wearing her pajamas¡ªfluffy ones decorated with tiny beastlings. In her hands, she clutched one of her many plushies: some kind of chubby beast with tiny wings and an exaggeratedly angry face.


    Her eyes blazed with excitement, her energy practically crackling in the air around her.


    ¡°Today is the what, Lina?¡± I muttered, still catching my breath.


    ¡°YOUR BIG JOB, DUMMY!¡± she shrieked, shaking me like a ragdoll. ¡°YOU¡¯RE GONNA HATCH THE THING, AND YOU¡¯RE GONNA BE THE BEST, AND YOU¡¯RE GONNA¡ª¡±


    She chomped my arm again, wiggling.


    ¡°LINA, STOP TRYING TO EAT ME¡ª¡±


    ¡°I CAN¡¯T HELP IT, I¡¯M SO EXCITED¡ª!¡±


    This child.


    This absolute menace.


    I groaned and finally managed to roll her off me, pinning her down by the shoulders. ¡°Lina. Breathe.¡±


    She gasped dramatically, then sucked in the loudest inhale I had ever heard.


    I sighed. ¡°Okay. Now talk like a normal person.¡±


    Her feet kicked against the bed as she grinned up at me. ¡°I¡¯M JUST HAPPY FOR YOU, OKAY?! I woke up and I was like¡ª¡®TODAY IS AKUL¡¯S BIG DAY¡¯ and then I RAN HERE!¡±This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.


    ¡°Yes. I noticed.¡±


    ¡°And I got my lucky plushie¡ªlook, it¡¯s Gra¡ªgra!¡± She shoved the round, angry flying plush in my face. ¡°He¡¯s my battle partner today!¡±


    I stared at the plush. Then at her.


    I sighed. ¡°Lina.¡±


    ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re not going with me.¡±


    Silence.


    A pause.


    Then¡ª


    ¡°Yes, I am.¡±


    ¡°No. You¡¯re not.¡±


    ¡°YES I AM.¡±


    ¡°Lina¡ª¡±


    ¡°AKUL, YOU DON¡¯T UNDERSTAND. I ALREADY DECIDED.¡±


    ¡°You¡ª What does that even mean?! You can¡¯t just¡ª¡±


    ¡°I. DECIDED.¡±


    She looked so sure. Like she had made an irreversible contract with the universe itself.


    Before I could argue further, the door creaked open again.


    ¡°Lina, stop trying to smuggle yourself into your brother¡¯s job.¡±


    Mother¡¯s voice was both fond and exasperated as she stepped inside. Father followed, arms crossed, watching the scene unfold with quiet amusement.


    ¡°But Mom,¡± Lina whined, rolling dramatically on the bed. ¡°I NEED to go with him. What if he needs my expert advice?¡±


    ¡°Expert advice on what?¡± I muttered.


    ¡°On EVERYTHING.¡±


    Mother chuckled, sitting on the edge of the bed. ¡°Sweetheart, Akul has to do this on his own. And you have lectures today, remember?¡±


    Lina froze.


    A slow, painful realization dawned on her face.


    ¡°¡­Nooooo,¡± she whispered, horrified.


    ¡°Yes,¡± Mother confirmed.


    ¡°You¡¯re lying. There¡¯s no lectures today.¡±


    ¡°There is.¡±


    ¡°Noooo¡ª¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    She curled into herself, her little hands clutching her plushie like it could save her.


    And just like that¡ª


    The hurricane died.


    She deflated instantly¡ªfrom the wild energy of a thousand lightning bolts to a sad little flickering candle.


    ¡°Oh,¡± she mumbled. ¡°I see how it is.¡±


    Guilt stabbed at me. ¡°Lina, I¡¯ll tell you everything when I get back¡ª¡±


    ¡°No, no. It¡¯s fine. You go. I¡¯ll stay here.¡± She sniffled dramatically. ¡°ALONE. ABANDONED.¡±


    ¡°Lina¡ª¡±


    ¡°Left behind like a forgotten slipper in the rain¡ª¡±


    ¡°LINA.¡±


    She looked up at me.


    And then¡ª


    She smiled softly.


    ¡°You¡¯ll do great,¡± she whispered, voice small now. ¡°I know you will.¡±


    For a moment, I just stared at her.


    Then, I reached out and ruffled her already-messy hair. ¡°Yeah. I will.¡±


    The sadness lingered for a moment longer¡ªbefore she suddenly brightened, grabbing my hand and squeezing it. ¡°When you get back, you have to tell me EVERYTHING, okay?¡±


    I smirked. ¡°Deal.¡±


    And just like that, she perked up again.


    Still a little sad. But hopeful.


    ¡°All right, go get ready,¡± Mother said, standing up. ¡°Anya will be here soon.¡±


    Lina sniffled again for dramatic effect but hopped off my bed. ¡°I¡¯m taking my plushie with me to school. He will be my emotional support warrior.¡±


    Father chuckled. ¡°Good idea.¡±


    As she shuffled out, dragging her plushie behind her like a defeated warrior, I let out a breath.


    ¡°She really is something else,¡± I muttered.


    Mother smiled. ¡°She¡¯s your biggest supporter. Even if she can¡¯t go with you.¡±


    I nodded. ¡°I know.¡±


    I sat up, rubbing the sleep out of my eyes as Lina finally disappeared down the hall. The room felt noticeably calmer¡ªquieter now that the storm had passed.


    Father leaned against the wall, arms still crossed, watching me with that unreadable gaze of his. Mother sat beside me on the bed, the warmth of her presence grounding me.


    ¡°So,¡± she said, her voice gentle but knowing. ¡°It¡¯s done, isn¡¯t it?¡±


    I glanced at my bedside. The grimoire sat there, its twin-pupiled eye shut, as if still resting. But it wasn¡¯t just a book anymore. It wasn¡¯t just a tool.


    It had become something.


    I exhaled. ¡°Yeah. True Manifestation.¡±


    Father¡¯s expression didn¡¯t change, but something flickered in his eyes¡ªsomething sharp, something knowing.


    ¡°That was fast,¡± he said, tilting his head slightly. ¡°Much faster than most.¡±


    Mother reached out, brushing a stray strand of hair from my face. ¡°How do you feel?¡±


    I hesitated. It was a simple question, but the answer felt¡­ complicated.


    ¡°Different,¡± I admitted. ¡°Like something clicked into place. Like¡ªit wasn¡¯t about forcing it. It just¡­ happened.¡±


    Father hummed, nodding slowly. ¡°That¡¯s a good sign.¡±


    Mother smiled. ¡°It means your artifact is truly yours now. It¡¯s not just something you wield¡ªit¡¯s part of you. That kind of synchronization¡­ it¡¯ll shape everything from here on.¡±


    I swallowed, glancing at my grimoire again. I knew what this meant. True Manifestation wasn¡¯t just a milestone¡ªit was recognition, proof that my artifact had fully acknowledged me.


    And that meant something else, too.


    I glanced at Father. ¡°The Registry.¡±


    He nodded. ¡°You¡¯ll have to go. All new awakenings are recorded every four months, and you and Chia both fall into this cycle. The next Registry is in a few weeks.¡±


    ¡°Is it mandatory?¡± I asked, even though I already knew the answer.


    Mother sighed. ¡°It¡¯s more than just a formality, Akul. Registration isn¡¯t just about putting your name on a list¡ªit determines how the world sees you. Your official rank, your artifact classification¡ªit all starts there.¡±


    Father¡¯s voice was steady but firm. ¡°It also means the Raiven family will know.¡±


    Silence.


    A chill ran down my spine.


    I¡¯d been able to exist in the shadows until now. My artifact, my abilities¡ªonly the people in this house knew the full truth. But once I registered, that privacy would be gone.


    They would know.


    I clenched my fists. ¡°How long until they take an interest?¡±


    Father¡¯s expression darkened. ¡°Depends. If you keep a low profile, maybe months. If you make waves¡­ sooner.¡±


    Mother reached for my hand, squeezing it. ¡°But don¡¯t let that stop you. You¡¯ve come this far, and this is just another step. No matter what happens, you have us.¡±


    I exhaled slowly. Right. I wasn¡¯t alone.


    Still, the weight of it pressed against my chest.


    Father studied me for a moment before nodding. ¡°You have time to prepare. For now, focus on the job at hand. The egg comes first.¡±


    I nodded. ¡°Yeah. The egg comes first.¡±


    A knock at the door interrupted the conversation.


    Anya had arrived.


    It was showtime.

 Chapter 40: The Ghostly Clients.

    Anya arrived in style, as usual.


    She wasn¡¯t the type to walk in unnoticed. Even in a simple black dress, she moved like someone who owned the air around her¡ªcontrolled, deliberate, with the easy confidence of a woman who made things happen.


    Her eyes flicked to me the moment I stepped outside, scanning me the way she always did¡ªlike she was calculating something.


    ¡°Good, you¡¯re ready.¡± She adjusted her dress. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡±


    I followed her into the carriage without a word.


    The ride was quiet at first, the usual hum of the city passing by. Anya didn¡¯t fill silence unnecessarily, which I appreciated. It gave me space to think.


    But after a few minutes, she spoke.


    ¡°You¡¯re about to meet important people, Akul. Stay focused.¡±


    ¡°You say that like I talk too much.¡±


    ¡°No, you talk just enough. But they?¡± She smirked slightly. ¡°They will talk very little. You¡¯ll need to listen well.¡±


    I nodded, filing that away. ¡°Who are they?¡±


    ¡°Clients. High-profile clients.¡± She glanced at me. ¡°Your job is the egg, not their history.¡±


    Fair enough.


    She reached into a compartment and pulled out a folded garment. ¡°Put this on.¡±


    I took it, running my fingers over the material. It was smooth, cool to the touch, woven with an almost imperceptible shimmer.


    ¡°What is this?¡±


    ¡°Your disguise.¡± Anya smirked. ¡°A very expensive one.¡±


    ¡°An illusion cloak?¡± I raised an eyebrow.


    ¡°Not just any illusion cloak,¡± she said, watching as I pulled it over my shoulders. ¡°That one hides everything¡ªappearance, voice, mana signature, even your artifact¡¯s form.¡±


    I turned it over in my hands. Something about it felt¡­ off. Then I realized¡ªthere was no mana signature. No presence. It was blank, like an empty void.


    ¡°Put it on,¡± she urged.


    I hesitated, but eventually I draped it over my shoulders.


    I adjusted the clasp at my throat, feeling the enchantment settle over me. The moment it activated, a subtle shift ran through my entire body. My limbs felt different¡ªlonger. Even my own breathing sounded foreign.


    I glanced at my hands. They weren¡¯t mine anymore. The illusion had changed everything.


    A mirror materialized.


    The reflection showed a taller figure, lean but broad-shouldered, with dark hair and an unfamiliar face. Even my eyes were different¡ªdull, unremarkable brown.


    Anya looked satisfied. ¡°Good. Your voice, your height, even your artifact¡ªall of it is masked. No one will know who you are.¡±


    I flexed my fingers, feeling a slight resistance¡ªlike there was a thin layer of magic between me and reality. ¡°You really went all out for this.¡±


    She chuckled. ¡°Of course I did. I¡¯m investing in you, after all.¡±


    Anya nodded in approval. ¡°Good. Now follow my lead, and say only what you must. It¡¯s for your own good not to draw their attention. We do business, then we go our separate way, okay?¡±


    ¡°Yes, Auntie.¡±


    She smiled.


    The Pavilion loomed ahead, its grand structure standing as one of the most well-known summoning establishments in the city. Inside, we moved quickly¡ªpast corridors lined with rare summoning relics, past quiet murmurs of other business dealings¡ªuntil we reached a secluded, high-security chamber.


    As I looked around, I only saw an empty room. ¡°So, where are the clients?¡±


    Before she could answer, the other door to the chamber opened.


    And they entered.


    They didn¡¯t walk.


    The woman glided across the floor like gravity was optional, her long robes trailing behind her, embroidered with thin gold threads that shimmered against the pure white fabric. The mother stood tall, poised¡ªa figure of cold perfection. Skin so pale it was almost translucent, veins of gold threading beneath the surface like liquid metal. Her hair was white, not silver, not platinum¡ªjust white, untouched by even the softest hue. She wore it sleek and controlled, no strand out of place.


    And then there was the girl.


    She didn¡¯t walk either. She floated.If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.


    Not like she was being lifted by magic. Not like she was flying.


    She simply did not touch the ground.


    She drifted inches above it, her movements impossibly smooth, as if the concept of walking simply did not apply to her. The long fabric of her robes trailed beneath her, never quite touching the floor, shifting like something slightly out of sync with the rest of the world.


    Her face was young, but not childlike. Smooth, carved from the same untouchable elegance as her mother. But her eyes¡ªdeep gold, slit-pupiled¡ªheld something ancient.


    Her hair was whiter than fresh snowfall, a pale so intense it almost looked translucent. The same went for her skin¡ªso white you could almost see the delicate web of veins beneath it. Her lips had a natural pink hue, and gold accents trailed along her temples, framing her golden eyes.


    She didn¡¯t look sickly.


    She looked¡­ wrong.


    Like something beyond human.


    Then there was her artifact.


    It hovered beside her, pulsing with a soft, eerie light.


    A gilded eye. Ornate, intricate, laced with delicate filigree and twisting metalwork, as if it were a piece of history itself. And yet, it was very much alive. The eye in its center¡ªunnervingly human¡ªmoved with purpose, tracking the room, its golden iris shifting with quiet sentience.


    She didn¡¯t touch it. She didn¡¯t need to.


    It followed her like a silent guardian.


    Something¡­ watching.


    The moment they came into the room, an unnatural stillness took hold. It wasn¡¯t magic or a spell¡ªit was them. Their presence alone was enough to shift the atmosphere.


    The instant the girl¡¯s artifact turned its gaze to me, I felt it.


    A shift. A weight.


    The floating eye, encased in its gilded frame, moved. Not just tracking me¡ªfocusing. The way something ancient recognizes something familiar.


    It wasn¡¯t alive in the way beasts were. It wasn¡¯t conscious in the way humans were. But it knew.


    And my grimoire?


    It knew, too.


    The air around me grew heavier. My grimoire, which had been hovering calmly at my side, twitched. Its twin-pupiled eye, usually half-lidded in lazy awareness, snapped open.


    Gold and crimson met deep, abyssal blue.


    A pause.


    Then¡ª


    The pulse.


    Something deeper. A tremor in the fabric of existence itself.


    For a split second, the world blurred. My grimoire¡¯s pages fluttered wildly, as if caught in a storm only it could feel. The girl¡¯s eye flickered¡ªits deep blue hues fracturing, splitting, adjusting.


    She inhaled softly.


    Her head tilted, slow, calculating. ¡°Oh.¡±


    The eye beside her pulsed again, the faintest shimmer rippling through its ornate frame.


    My grimoire responded¡ªa slow, steady thrum, as though something long dormant had stirred just for a moment.


    I exhaled sharply, my fingers clenched.


    I was fighting to keep my innate ability from activating, from reacting.


    I could feel it¡ªthe overwhelming sense that something had shifted.


    The girl studied me for a long moment, then turned¡ªjust slightly¡ªtoward her mother.


    ¡°This one,¡± she murmured, ¡°is not like the others.¡±


    The mother didn¡¯t react. ¡°That was never in question.¡±


    Anya cleared her throat before greeting them with a respectful bow. ¡°Lady Vaelith. Young Mistress Lys.¡±


    The mother¡ªLady Vaelith¡ªnodded slightly, her expression unreadable.


    The girl, Lys, said nothing.


    But she was staring at me.


    I held perfectly still. The illusion should have hidden me completely¡ªthere was no way she could see through it.


    And yet¡­


    Those golden eyes studied me with an unnatural stillness.


    Then her lips parted.


    ¡°You are the summoner?¡±


    Her voice was smooth, measured¡ªneither warm nor cold, just absolute.


    I inclined my head slightly. ¡°I am.¡±


    She tilted her head, studying me the way a scholar might study something curious under a lens.


    ¡°You,¡± she said softly. ¡°You feel¡­¡±


    A chill ran down my spine.


    Lys tilted her head. ¡°I see¡­¡±


    Her voice was quiet, but it had an eerie weight to it¡ªlike I wasn¡¯t just hearing the words, but reading them deep inside my mind.


    Anya cleared her throat, stepping in. ¡°The contract is simple. The egg will remain under his care for one week, no more, no less. You will receive reports on its status, and when the hatching begins, you will be informed immediately.¡±


    The mother inclined her head slightly. ¡°We accept these terms.¡±


    A faint shimmer in the air¡ªa subtle pulse of mana. A confirmation.


    The mother spoke. ¡°You understand the importance of this task.¡±


    Her voice was like silk over steel¡ªcontrolled.


    Anya inclined her head. ¡°Of course.¡±


    She gestured to me. ¡°The egg.¡±


    The girl lifted a single hand. She did not reach into a bag. She did not summon it with a spell.


    She simply willed it into existence.


    And the egg¡ªformed.


    It materialized in the space between us, as if it had always been there, waiting to be seen.


    I inhaled sharply.


    It was¡­ beyond rare.


    It commanded the space around it.


    The shell was an impossible fusion of elements¡ªdark as obsidian, layered with jagged, armor-like ridges that pulsed with energy. Glowing cracks ran through its surface, flickering between molten reds, deep oranges, and streaks of arcane blue-gold, as if something inside were shifting, pressing against the shell.


    The longer I stared, the more the surface seemed to move¡ªnot physically, but in a way that unsettled the mind. It was never quite the same shape twice, its contours adjusting in ways that defied reason.


    Then there were the horns¡ªfour curved, jagged protrusions emerging from the shell¡¯s surface like a beast already breaking free. They were not just decoration. They pulsed with life, with raw, unrefined power, as if this egg were already something greater than just an unhatched beast.


    The air around it was wrong.


    Not suffocating. Not heavy.


    Just¡­ aware.


    A faint mist, neither smoke nor flame, curled around the shell, vanishing the moment it drifted too far from its source. The egg hummed¡ªnot a sound, but a vibration in the bones, a whisper in the back of the mind.


    It wasn¡¯t just an egg.


    It was a presence. A force, waiting.


    And whatever was inside¡­


    It wasn¡¯t asleep.


    The egg was placed carefully onto a velvet cushion¡ªa dark, swirling fabric that pulsed with energy. Abyssal energy.


    I inhaled sharply.


    This thing wasn¡¯t normal.


    Lys rested a hand lightly on the egg, her fingers ghosting over the surface. She looked up.


    ¡°It must be handled with care.¡±


    Anya smiled. ¡°That¡¯s why you came to me. Don¡¯t worry. We are professionals.¡±


    I reached forward, hands steady. The moment my fingers touched it, a pulse ran through me.


    The girl¡¯s eyes sharpened just slightly. ¡°Interesting,¡± she murmured.


    The mother simply nodded. ¡°We will await your report.¡±


    Vaelith regarded me for a long moment. ¡°Do not disappoint us.¡±


    I bowed slightly, keeping my voice neutral. ¡°I won¡¯t.¡±


    Lys blinked at me one last time¡ªthen turned, her body effortlessly gliding toward the exit. The mother followed, her presence just as unsettling.


    And then they were gone.


    In a single, seamless movement, they both vanished.


    Not teleported. Not moved.


    Just¡­ ceased to be.


    As if they had never been there at all.


    I exhaled, my shoulders relaxing just a little.


    Anya smirked. ¡°Nervous?¡±


    I shot her a look. ¡°Who are they?¡±


    ¡°Old blood,¡± she said. ¡°One of the ancient lineages. Wealthy beyond reason. Powerful beyond measure.¡±


    I frowned. ¡°What kind of summoner floats naturally?¡±


    Anya just smiled. ¡°The kind that doesn¡¯t need to walk.¡±


    I stared at the door they had left through.


    The golden-eyed girl.


    The way she felt things instead of just seeing them.


    The way she looked at me.


    Something told me¡ª


    This wasn¡¯t the last time I¡¯d see her.


    And for the next week, this egg will be my responsibility.

 Chapter 41: Egg Revival.

    I stared at the egg.


    Now that the clients were gone, the weight of their presence had lifted, and Anya had shed her professional skin.


    She leaned back against the table, arms crossed, watching me with that infuriating smirk of hers¡ªthe one that meant she knew something I didn¡¯t.


    I narrowed my eyes. ¡°What?¡±


    She tapped her chin, pretending to think. ¡°Nothing, nothing¡­ just an observation.¡±


    I sighed. ¡°If you have something to say, just say it.¡±


    Her grin widened. ¡°That girl was really interested in you.¡±


    I blinked. ¡°What girl?¡±


    She gave me a flat look. ¡°The one floating. The one who looks like she belongs in an ancient painting. The one who¡ªoh, I don¡¯t know¡ªdidn¡¯t stop staring at you the entire time?¡±


    I frowned. ¡°She was just looking at the egg.¡±


    Anya rolled her eyes. ¡°Please. I¡¯ve been dealing with humans my whole life. I can read people.¡± She tilted her head. ¡°And while I can¡¯t read their expressions as clearly as I¡¯d like, I could see her interest in you.¡±


    I scoffed. ¡°Nah.¡±


    ¡°Yeah.¡±


    ¡°No.¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    I crossed my arms. ¡°You¡¯re reaching.¡±


    Anya smirked, tilting her head. ¡°Oh? So it was just coincidence that her gaze kept wandering back to you?¡±


    ¡°She was probably just¡ª¡±


    ¡°Oh, and let¡¯s not forget how she paused when you spoke. Like she wasn¡¯t expecting you to sound like that.¡±


    I huffed. ¡°Like what?¡±


    ¡°Like you actually had a brain.¡± She shrugged. ¡°You¡¯d be surprised how rare that is.¡±


    I groaned. ¡°Anya¡ª¡±


    ¡°Look, kid, I don¡¯t care who catches feelings for you. Just don¡¯t break the heart of an ancient floating enigma-child from an all-powerful bloodline, alright? Some people hold grudges.¡±


    I ran a hand down my face. ¡°Can we not do this right now?¡±


    She laughed, pushing off the table. ¡°Fine, fine. Let¡¯s talk about something easier.¡±


    I exhaled in relief.


    Then she gestured toward the egg.


    ¡°So,¡± she said casually, ¡°what do you think?¡±


    I exhaled, rubbing the back of my neck. ¡°I don¡¯t know. This thing¡­ it¡¯s different.¡±


    She raised a brow. ¡°Different?¡±


    I didn¡¯t answer right away. Instead, I placed a hand on the egg¡¯s surface and let my trait take over.


    A pulse.


    Then¡ªdarkness.


    No, not darkness. Something worse. Something vast. Endless. The kind of void that didn¡¯t just consume light but refused to acknowledge it had ever existed in the first place.


    My breath hitched as my Divine Eye of Origin forced clarity onto the incomprehensible.


    ¡ªXal¡¯Zirath, the Void Maw.


    The name alone made my skin crawl. Images flashed through my mind: a drifting horror, a floating abyss of gaping teeth and impossible hunger. Its singular, violet eye sat deep within its gnarled flesh¡ªa pit of pure malice.


    The world around it forgot. Sand erased footprints. Ruins lost their history. To be devoured wasn¡¯t to die¡ªit was to be removed.


    A predator of memory and history. A beast of horror.


    And yet¡ª


    The egg trembled beneath my palm.


    The creature inside wasn¡¯t the full-fledged nightmare that haunted forgotten deserts. It was something smaller, unfinished.


    This wasn¡¯t that creature from my vision. This one was¡­


    A Mawling.Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.


    A far weaker version of that horror.


    I exhaled slowly. The Mawling wasn¡¯t complete¡ªit was broken. A being that should be dead, but somehow wasn¡¯t. A creature that shouldn¡¯t exist, yet lingered.


    Juvenile. Weak. Flickering between states of existence.


    A small, shuddering piece of the end.


    I pulled my hand away.


    Silence.


    Anya¡¯s gaze sharpened. ¡°Well?¡±


    I swallowed. ¡°This thing¡­ It¡¯s Eldrazi.¡±


    A pause.


    Then she let out a slow, measured breath. ¡°¡­Shit.¡±


    I nodded. ¡°Yeah.¡±


    Another pause. Then¡ª


    ¡°Can you hatch it?¡±


    I hesitated. Could I? This wasn¡¯t a normal beast. It wasn¡¯t something that just needed warmth or mana or a carefully structured environment.


    It was fractured.


    It was hungry.


    If I did this wrong, I wouldn¡¯t just fail¡ªI might unleash something.


    But¡­


    I looked at the egg again.


    Something about it felt unfinished. Like it was waiting for something only I could give it.


    I took a steady breath.


    If I was going to do this, I needed more than just instinct.


    I placed both hands on the egg again, closing my eyes¡ªthen opened the other sight.


    The world sharpened.


    Everything fell away, leaving only the egg and its truth.


    For a moment, there was nothing. Just the void pressing against my senses, cold and endless.


    Then¡ªstructure.


    I saw the creature¡¯s form within the shell, flickering between what it was and what it should have been. Its essence was unstable, like a broken reflection trying to pull itself together.


    And at its center, where its core should be¡ª


    A fracture.


    Deep. Jagged. Something missing.


    That was the problem. The Mawling wasn¡¯t just unborn¡ªit was incomplete.


    Without its full core, it would never stabilize.


    It would never hatch.


    I exhaled, pushing deeper, my Divine Eye dragging me further into the egg¡¯s reality.


    I assumed its parent was killed before this egg was completed.


    What does it need?


    The answer formed in my vision.


    Three steps. Three impossible steps.


    No¡ªthree doable steps.


    The Path to Restoration:


    1. Essence Rebinding


    The broken core wasn¡¯t fully gone¡ªfragments of it still lingered inside the egg, scattered like shattered glass.


    I could rebind them, but I needed something to act as a bridge¡ªsomething to connect the fragments and hold them together.


    2. Existence Anchoring


    The Mawling wasn¡¯t just weak¡ªit was flickering. Its very existence was unstable, slipping between reality and nothingness.


    If I wanted it to hatch, I had to anchor it.


    3. Adaptive Growth


    Even if I repaired the core and anchored it, the Mawling wouldn¡¯t be strong enough to hatch on its own.


    It needed to grow. Quickly.


    My Adaptive Growth Factor could stimulate its natural process, reinforcing its body before it ever emerged.


    But this wasn¡¯t a normal creature. The process would be unstable.


    Too much, and I could push it beyond control. Too little, and it wouldn¡¯t be enough.


    I would need precise control.


    I pulled my hands away, blinking as my vision returned to normal. My head throbbed from the strain, but I ignored it.


    This¡­


    This was possible.


    Not easy. Not even close. But possible.


    I looked up at Anya.


    ¡°I have a plan,¡± I said.


    She raised a brow. ¡°That fast?¡±


    I gave her a small smirk. ¡°What can I say? I¡¯m efficient.¡±


    She rolled her eyes. ¡°Alright, genius. Lay it on me.¡±


    I did.


    Anya¡¯s eyes glinted. ¡°That¡¯s good enough.¡±


    She reached for a communication crystal and, without hesitation, activated it.


    ¡°We¡¯re renegotiating.¡±


    As she handled that, I focused again, diving deeper into my Divine Eye¡¯s analysis. I wasn¡¯t just looking for what the egg needed¡ªI was looking for what existed in the world that could provide it.


    I let my mind drift, reaching across the vast knowledge hidden within the depths of my ability.


    And there¡ª


    The solution unfolded before me.


    The Revival Incubation Process


    To rebuild and stabilize the Mawling¡¯s broken essence, I needed to create a custom nurturing chamber¡ªone that mimicked the conditions of its original void-born environment. That meant:


    1. Void-Touched Embryotic Fluid (Primary Nutrient Base)


    A specialized, high-density liquid to feed the egg¡¯s internal structure.


    Solution: The harvested essence of a Nyxian Abyssal Leviathan.


    A deep-sea creature that breeds in the Abyss Trenches, producing a nutrient-rich embryotic fluid for its young.


    Why? Leviathans sustain their eggs in deep, mana-starved waters for decades. Their fluid is one of the few natural substances capable of maintaining and nurturing dormant void entities.


    A single vial would be enough to sustain the Mawling¡¯s core.


    2. Soul-Weaving Cocoon (Protective Shell & Energy Regulation)


    The Mawling¡¯s soul was fractured, leaking instability. I needed to contain it without suffocating its natural void essence.


    Solution: Weaving a cocoon from Nightmare Widow Silk.


    The Nightmare Widow is an Abyss-Class Arachnid that spins webs capable of capturing the dreams of dying creatures.


    Why? Its silk doesn¡¯t just bind¡ªit anchors fragmented soul energy, preventing it from dispersing while allowing natural mana flow.


    This would stabilize the Mawling¡¯s form, ensuring it didn¡¯t flicker out of existence while regenerating.


    3. Abyss Core Ignition (Mana Circulation & Core Restoration)


    The egg¡¯s core wasn¡¯t just damaged¡ªit was starved. It needed something to rekindle its existence.


    Solution: The crystalline heart of a Fallen Void Phoenix.


    An extremely rare creature, known to be born from collapsing stars, absorbing void energy instead of fire.


    Why? Its heart acts as a natural void reactor, pulsing with self-sustaining abyssal energy.


    By embedding the crystal near the egg during incubation, it would act as a steady external power source, feeding the Mawling¡¯s core essence back into stability.


    4. Adaptive Growth Factor ¨C Controlled Stimulation


    Once the chamber was built, I could introduce my Primordial Growth Factor in waves, using carefully controlled bursts rather than a single overwhelming push.


    Growth without direction was mutation. But if I managed the flow carefully, I could steer its rebirth.


    Final Process ¨C The Incubation Ritual


    1. The egg would be submerged in the Abyssal Leviathan¡¯s embryotic fluid.


    2. It would be wrapped in Nightmare Widow Silk, forming a protective cocoon.


    3. A fragment of the Fallen Void Phoenix¡¯s heart would be placed inside the cocoon to regulate energy flow.


    4. I would apply my Growth Factor in calculated pulses, feeding the egg only as much as it could handle at each stage.


    If done perfectly, the Mawling wouldn¡¯t just hatch.


    It would awaken¡ªwhole. Stronger than ever.


    Whether that was actually a good thing, I didn¡¯t know.


    ---


    I exhaled sharply, the vision fading.


    Anya was watching me again, eyes sharp. ¡°What did you see?¡±


    I listed everything.


    She raised an eyebrow. ¡°You¡¯re asking for some serious high-tier materials, kid.¡±


    I crossed my arms. ¡°You asked me to find a solution. I found it.¡±


    She chuckled. ¡°Alright. Let¡¯s see how much these clients really want their egg revived.¡±


    She activated the crystal again.


    ¡°Change of plans. We¡¯re going to need a whole damn procurement team.¡±

 Chapter 42: The Old Bloods.

    The air was different this time.


    The first time they came, the mother and daughter carried an air of distant curiosity¡ªa low-risk, low-expectation gamble, offering the sky only if the impossible was achieved.


    Now?


    Now they wanted it.


    Badly.


    Their arrival was as silent as before¡ªno fanfare, no announcement. Just a quiet ripple in the world as they stepped into the negotiation room, moving like ghosts of a forgotten age. The little girl, Lys, and her mother, as usual, didn¡¯t walk. Her golden eyes locked onto the egg for a moment, then she looked at me deeply, then back at the egg with a quiet, unreadable intensity.


    Her mother, Mistress Vaelith, was composed as ever. Too still. Too perfect. But there was something new in the air¡ªsomething subtle. A shift.


    Interest had turned into certainty.


    They weren¡¯t just here to talk.


    They were here to claim.


    Anya, ever the master of reading the room, leaned back slightly, her usual casual confidence sharpened. ¡°You¡¯ve returned quicker than expected.¡±


    Vaelith gave a slow nod. ¡°We see no reason to delay.¡± Her voice was smooth, refined. ¡°The discovery is¡­ significant.¡±


    Lys hovered closer to the egg, staring at it as if it might disappear if she blinked.


    I stayed silent under my disguise, hands resting on the table, my heart steady. I knew what was coming.


    ¡°We want it.¡±


    Vaelith¡¯s words were simple, absolute. No hesitation. No second-guessing.


    Anya smiled, tilting her head. ¡°Of course. The question is, how much do you want it?¡±


    Vaelith didn¡¯t flinch. ¡°Name your price.¡±


    Anya flicked a glance at me. I took the cue, placing a list of required resources on the table.


    Vaelith¡¯s gaze swept over it.


    Nothing. No reaction. No raised brow, no flicker of emotion.


    But her fingers pressed against the parchment just a fraction harder than before.


    They had seen the list. And it had shocked them.


    Of course, they wouldn¡¯t show it. Not people like them. But I could feel it.


    It was a lot. Even for them.


    Lys finally spoke, her voice quiet but absolute. ¡°It will be my first contract.¡±


    I blinked.


    That¡­ was a big deal.


    A first contract was everything for a summoner. It shaped the entire foundation of their path. And she had chosen this.


    Anya¡¯s eyes gleamed with something close to amusement. ¡°Oh, well. That changes things, doesn¡¯t it?¡±


    Vaelith inclined her head. ¡°We will provide the materials. However, some are¡­ difficult to procure. We require a week.¡±


    Anya nodded as if this was expected. ¡°Acceptable.¡±


    And then¡ª


    I spoke.


    ¡°I will succeed.¡±


    The words left my mouth before I even thought about them.


    A guarantee.


    Not a probability. Not a maybe.


    A promise.


    Vaelith¡¯s gaze landed on me. Even through the disguise, even without knowing who I truly was, I felt it¡ªthe weight of expectation.


    Lys, still watching the egg, locked her whole attention on me and whispered, ¡°Good.¡±


    And then Vaelith spoke the words that made Anya¡¯s entire expression shift.


    ¡°We will not only offer wealth and resources for this. We will offer you something greater.¡±


    Silence.


    Anya tilted her head slightly. ¡°¡­And that is?¡±


    Vaelith¡¯s golden eyes met mine.


    ¡°Friendship.¡±


    Anya inhaled sharply.


    For the first time since I¡¯d met her¡ªsince I¡¯d known her¡ªshe actually looked genuinely surprised.


    Because this?


    This wasn¡¯t just a contract.


    This was a connection to the Old Bloods. A bond with one of the most powerful lineages in existence.


    And people like them?


    They didn¡¯t offer empty words.


    A promise from them was absolute.


    Lys finally turned her gaze from the egg, her golden eyes locking onto me.


    ¡°We always keep our word.¡±


    Anya¡¯s smirk returned, sharper now. Brighter.


    ¡°Then I¡¯d say we have a deal.¡±


    ---


    The room had settled, the deal sealed. The Old Bloods had spoken their final words, left behind the weight of their promise¡ªand then they were gone.


    But the egg remained.


    I stood there, staring at it, feeling the weight of something much larger than myself settling onto my shoulders.


    ¡°This thing,¡± I muttered. ¡°This thing is ridiculous.¡±


    Anya, sitting comfortably with one leg crossed over the other, smirked. ¡°That¡¯s an understatement.¡±


    Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.


    I exhaled. ¡°Alright. I¡¯m taking it home.¡±


    The smirk vanished.


    ¡°Excuse me?¡±


    I looked at her. ¡°I need to study it properly. I work better in my own space. If I¡ª¡±


    ¡°No.¡±


    The word was flat. Final.


    I blinked. ¡°What?¡±


    Anya sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. ¡°Akul. Do you have any idea what this egg is worth now?¡±


    ¡°Yes¡ª¡±


    ¡°No, you don¡¯t.¡± She leaned forward, fixing me with a look. ¡°You think you do, but you don¡¯t.¡± She tapped the table once, voice sharp. ¡°Before today, this was a high-risk, low-expectation job. Now? It¡¯s everything. If this goes wrong, we don¡¯t just lose money. We lose them.¡±


    I frowned. ¡°They wouldn¡¯t¡ª¡±


    ¡°Akul.¡±


    Her voice dropped just slightly, something rare flickering in her expression.


    Seriousness.


    ¡°This isn¡¯t about whether they¡¯ll ¡®forgive¡¯ us if something goes wrong. It¡¯s about what this means. If you mess this up, we don¡¯t just lose a client. We make a very powerful enemy.¡±


    I exhaled through my nose, looking back at the egg. It sat there, still and silent, yet somehow heavy.


    ¡°¡­Alright,¡± I muttered. ¡°Fine. It stays.¡±


    Anya relaxed slightly. ¡°Good.¡±


    ¡°But,¡± I added, crossing my arms, ¡°I¡¯m still going to be the one handling it. I need full access.¡±


    Anya tilted her head, considering. Then she nodded. ¡°That was never in question.¡±


    I glanced back at the egg.


    Still silent. Still unmoving.


    But somehow, I felt like it was watching me.


    ---


    Lina was already waiting for me when I stepped through the door.


    She had planted herself on the couch, arms crossed, her plushie sitting on her lap like a silent judge. The moment she saw me, she perked up¡ªthen immediately squinted.


    ¡°You took too long,¡± she accused.


    I smirked, ruffling her hair as I passed. ¡°I was working.¡±


    She grabbed my sleeve, eyes burning. ¡°Tell me everything.¡±


    I didn¡¯t even have to ask what she meant.


    So I told her.


    Every detail, every strange, impossible moment. The girl who floated instead of walked. The way her mother barely seemed real, like a statue carved from something too smooth, too flawless. The air of weight they carried, like they weren¡¯t just rich¡ªthey were important.


    Lina gasped at the floating.


    She screamed at the idea of the little girl staring silently at me for minutes on end.


    She flopped back dramatically when I described their skin¡ª¡°They were what color?! No one is that pale! Are they ghosts?! Wait¡ªARE THEY GHOSTS?!¡±


    She kicked the air when I described the sheer pressure they carried without even trying, gripping her plushie like it was absorbing the intensity for her.


    By the time I finished, she was sprawled across the couch, eyes wide, brain clearly running at full speed.


    I smirked. ¡°So? What do you think?¡±


    Lina blinked, then sucked in a deep breath.


    Then she shot upright.


    ¡°I HAVE DECIDED!¡± she declared, pointing at me. ¡°I WILL FLOAT TOO.¡±


    I choked. ¡°What?¡±


    She hopped off the couch, standing tall, determined. ¡°If she can float, I can float!¡±


    I groaned. ¡°Lina, that¡¯s not¡ª¡±


    ¡°I WILL STUDY THE ANCIENT ART OF ANTI-GRAVITY WALKING.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s¡ªLina, that¡¯s not¡ª¡±


    ¡°MARK MY WORDS, AKUL. THE NEXT TIME YOU SEE ME, I WILL BE AIRBORNE.¡±


    I sighed, rubbing my face.


    Then, casually, I added, ¡°Anya called them Old Bloods.¡±


    It was supposed to just be a passing comment.


    Just a small note at the end of the chaos.


    But¡ª


    The moment I said the words¡ª


    The room changed.


    The air shifted.


    Like something old had just woken up.


    I turned¡ª


    And saw Father staring.


    Not blinking. Not moving.


    Just¡ªstaring.


    His expression unreadable.


    ¡°¡­What did you say?¡± His voice was quiet.


    I blinked. ¡°Uh. Anya called them¡ª¡±


    ¡°Old Bloods?¡± he finished.


    Something about the way he said it¡ª


    Not like a question.


    Like a realization.


    A memory.


    A weight.


    I nodded slowly. ¡°Yeah.¡±


    Silence.


    Lina looked between us, suddenly aware that something had changed.


    Mother, standing nearby, exhaled softly. ¡°¡­So it¡¯s them.¡±


    Father closed his eyes, inhaling deeply.


    Then, when he opened them¡ª


    Something was there.


    Something deep.


    Something old.


    ¡°¡­Akul,¡± he said quietly. ¡°Tell me everything. From the beginning.¡±


    ---


    Father sat in silence, eyes dark with thought.


    The weight in the air was heavier now, pressing against my skin like an unseen force. I glanced at Mother¡ªher expression was calm, but there was something in her gaze, something cautious, as if she already knew what Father was about to say.


    Lina, sitting cross-legged on the couch, hugged her plushie tightly, wide-eyed but silent.


    I exhaled slowly. ¡°Alright,¡± I said. ¡°From the beginning, then.¡±


    And so I told them.


    Every. Single. Detail.


    The way they floated. The unnatural whiteness of their skin, their flawless, eerie beauty. The sheer weight of their presence, the way they carried themselves¡ªlike something not quite human, something other.


    I told them about their offer, their promise of friendship¡ªhow they valued their words like a contract written in stone.


    I described the egg, the dormant horror inside it, the Mawling, the creature that would one day become a devourer of history itself.


    And as I spoke, Father remained still. Listening. Watching. Absorbing every word.


    Finally, when I was done, I leaned forward, my voice quiet but firm.


    ¡°Dad.¡±


    His gaze lifted to mine.


    ¡°What are Old Bloods, really?¡± I asked. ¡°And why did you react like that?¡±


    A long silence.


    Then¡ª


    Father exhaled, rubbing a hand over his face.


    ¡°Old Bloods¡­¡± he murmured. ¡°They are human. But at the same time, they are not.¡±


    I frowned. ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    Father leaned back in his chair, eyes distant, as if looking at something beyond the present moment.


    ¡°¡®Old Blood¡¯ means exactly that¡ªthe blood of the ancient.¡± His voice was quiet, measured. ¡°They are the remnants of a time when humans were not the only rulers of this world. When we were not at the top of the chain.¡±


    A chill ran down my spine.


    ¡°They carry the blood of things older than recorded history,¡± he continued. ¡°Creatures of the past. Entities that walked the world before the Towers existed. Beasts whose names have been lost to time.¡±


    I swallowed. ¡°So¡­ they¡¯re not normal summoners?¡±


    Father¡¯s expression was grim. ¡°They are more than summoners. More than humans. They are something else entirely. And that makes them¡­ dangerous.¡±


    A heavy pause.


    ¡°Old Bloods do not mix,¡± he went on. ¡°They do not seek outsiders. They do not expand their families. They do not grow their numbers.¡±


    ¡°Why?¡± I asked.


    ¡°Because they are obsessed with their bloodlines,¡± he said simply. ¡°With keeping them pure.¡±


    Lina shifted uncomfortably beside me. ¡°That sounds creepy.¡±


    Father nodded. ¡°It is. Old Bloods do not marry outside their kind. And even between their own clans, they rarely mix. Each family is its own world. They do not recruit. They do not adopt. They do not accept outsiders¡ªunless they have no other choice.¡±


    I frowned. ¡°So if they avoid outsiders so much¡­ why did they come here?¡±


    ¡°Because they need you,¡± he said. ¡°If what you told me about that egg is correct, it¡¯s a lost cause. Undeveloped, broken at the core¡ªit¡¯s an impossible mission. Trust me, many before you have tried, and every single one failed.¡±


    The words settled heavily in my chest.


    Father exhaled again, his fingers tapping lightly against the armrest.


    ¡°There are not only two Towers,¡± he said suddenly.


    I blinked. ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°You know of the Heavenly Tower and the Abyssal Tower. But in reality, there are six.¡±


    I sat up straight. ¡°Six?¡±


    He nodded. ¡°Six great Towers. Each one holding a different part of the world¡¯s history. Each one with a purpose beyond human understanding.¡±


    I opened my mouth to ask more¡ªbut then I stopped.


    Because Father¡¯s gaze had sharpened.


    ¡°And by what you¡¯ve told me¡­ their family is from the Abyssal Tower.¡±


    Silence.


    Mother sighed softly. ¡°The Ghost Clan,¡± she murmured.


    The name sent a shiver through my body.


    ¡°The Ghost Clan?¡± I echoed.


    Father nodded. ¡°One of the most dangerous clans of Old Bloods to ever exist, and one of the few that does not fear the Abyss. Actually, they don¡¯t fear anything. They¡¯re the odd ones.¡±


    I stiffened.


    ¡°The Abyssal Tower is a nightmare for most,¡± he continued. ¡°Its depths swallow people whole. The creatures that dwell there are beyond human comprehension. The deeper you go, the more reality itself begins to¡­ warp.¡±


    I shivered, remembering the things I had seen about the Mawling.


    ¡°But for them,¡± Father said, ¡°the Abyss is not a place of fear.¡± His gaze darkened. ¡°It is their home, their battleground, their playground.¡±


    A slow, creeping realization settled into my bones.


    ¡°They¡­ live in the Abyssal Tower?¡± I asked.


    ¡°They do more than live there,¡± he murmured. ¡°They thrive. They hunt. They grow. From childhood, their people are raised in its depths. They do not merely survive it¡ªthey become part of it.¡±


    ¡°Rumors say they came from somewhere else,¡± Mother said quietly. ¡°Before their home was¡­ broken.¡±


    The weight of that statement was suffocating.


    From another place? Then to the Abyssal Tower?


    I had heard about the Abyssal Tower from Ryzar before¡ªabout how the further one descended, the more twisted the world became. The heavier it felt, a pressure that would break many. How summoners had ventured too deep and never returned.


    And yet¡ª


    This family treated it as their training ground.


    ¡°¡­Why would anyone do that?¡± I asked quietly.


    Father¡¯s eyes met mine.


    ¡°Because to them,¡± he said, ¡°there is no greater glory.¡±


    The words sent chills down my spine.


    ¡°The pressure the Abyssal Tower produces does not seem to affect them. They have a real advantage there,¡± he added softly.


    I leaned back, trying to process everything.


    The Old Bloods.


    A people who carried the blood of ancient things.


    A people who refused to mix with the rest of the world.


    A people who saw the Abyssal Tower¡ªone of the most terrifying places in existence¡ªas nothing more than their personal battleground.


    And now¡ª


    They had come to me.


    For a moment, the room was silent.


    Then¡ª


    Lina tugged on my sleeve.


    ¡°Akul.¡±


    Her voice was small now. No more jokes. No more wild declarations. Just a quiet, honest worry.


    I turned to her.


    She was gripping her plushie so tightly her knuckles were pale.


    ¡°¡­Are you sure you should be doing this?¡±


    I opened my mouth¡ª


    And stopped.


    For the first time, I wasn¡¯t sure how to answer.

 Chapter 43: Ghost Clan & Bobo’s Future.

    I sat there, still processing everything.


    The weight of my father¡¯s words lingered in the air¡ªheavy, undeniable. The Ghost Clan. The Abyssal Tower. The Old Bloods.


    And the realization that I had just made a deal with them.


    A deep unease coiled in my chest.


    Had I made a mistake?


    Had I promised something I wasn¡¯t ready to deliver?


    I clenched my hands, staring at the table. The more I thought about it, the more doubt crept in. The Mawling¡¯s broken core. The Void Maw¡¯s terrifying potential. The stakes.


    What if I failed?


    A hand gently touched my head.


    I looked up.


    Mother.


    Her warm, steady gaze met mine, her fingers brushing through my hair like she had done when I was younger.


    ¡°You didn¡¯t do anything wrong, Akul,¡± she said softly.


    I swallowed. ¡°But¡ª¡±


    ¡°They¡¯re dangerous,¡± she admitted. ¡°Yes. But tell me¡ªwho at the top of this world isn¡¯t?¡±


    I hesitated.


    Her eyes gleamed.


    ¡°Power isn¡¯t given freely, Akul. Those who rise high enough, who establish themselves in this world? They are all dangerous, one way or another.¡±


    I let out a slow breath.


    ¡°You made a promise,¡± she continued. ¡°And if the Ghost Clan truly pledged their friendship, then you¡¯d better try your best to earn it. Because a bond with people like them? That is not something given lightly.¡±


    I stared at her, my mind shifting.


    She was right.


    I had seen it myself. Lys and her mother weren¡¯t desperate. They weren¡¯t begging. They had the resources, the knowledge, the sheer presence of something that did not need to be here.


    And yet¡ª


    They had come.


    And they had trusted me to do what no one else could.


    A slow realization settled in.


    This wasn¡¯t just about the egg.


    This was an opportunity.


    ¡°But you need to understand something about them,¡± Mother continued. ¡°The Ghost Clan are different from any other Old Blood family.¡±


    I blinked. ¡°How so?¡±


    ¡°They don¡¯t group like normal families. They don¡¯t have sprawling territories, vast estates, or a structured hierarchy.¡± She leaned back slightly. ¡°You will never see a Ghost Clan gathering. They don¡¯t live in the same place. They don¡¯t build communities.¡±


    I frowned. ¡°Then how do they¡ª?¡±


    ¡°You will only ever find them in small groups,¡± she explained. ¡°And those groups usually consist of a mother and her child.¡±


    A pause.


    I slowly processed her words.


    ¡°Their women,¡± she continued, ¡°raise the next generation alone. The fathers? They are independent. They go their own way, walking their own paths. They might gather for a time, like brothers in arms, but after that? They separate again. That is their culture. Their nature.¡±


    The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.


    I exhaled, my mind flashing back to Lys and her mother.


    ¡°So¡­ that¡¯s why it was just them,¡± I murmured.


    Mother nodded. ¡°That¡¯s why. And it¡¯s also why you won¡¯t have to worry about restrictions, traditions, or politics. Unlike other noble families, they don¡¯t have rigid rules. They don¡¯t care for alliances or bloodline purity beyond their own. Their only focus¡±¡ªshe met my gaze¡ª¡°is reaching the highest floors of the Abyssal Tower. That is the only thing they live for.¡±


    The words settled deep in my chest.


    I let out a slow breath. ¡°I see.¡±


    Then Father spoke, his words heavy.


    ¡°But that also means they are battle-hungry maniacs who will fight to the last breath. They also have a very protective nature toward their clan, seeing every member as a brother or sister.¡±


    ¡°And if one harms even a single one of them, there will be no negotiations. Many will come, many who aren¡¯t even directly related; all will show up. From every corner of the world, they¡¯ll come.¡±


    The Ghost Clan is not only respected¡ªthey are also feared.


    My eyes widened. That sounded domineering.


    Mother smiled. ¡°But this is also a good opportunity, Akul. Before anything else¡­¡± She tilted her head slightly. ¡°Do you believe you can do what you promised?¡±


    The room fell silent.


    I straightened, thinking of my Divine Eye of Origin, of the broken Mawling, of the knowledge burned into my mind¡ªthe paths that stretched before me.


    And I spoke without hesitation.


    ¡°Absolutely.¡±


    Mother¡¯s smile widened slightly. ¡°Good.¡±


    She leaned back, satisfied. ¡°Because you have bigger things to worry about.¡±


    I blinked. ¡°What?¡±


    She folded her arms. ¡°Your registration.¡±


    Oh.


    Oh, right.


    ¡°Registration happens every four months,¡± she reminded me. ¡°And all those who have awakened during that time are required to attend.¡±


    Chia and I¡­ we¡¯d both awakened during this period.


    Which meant¡ª


    ¡°You¡¯ll be tested,¡± she said simply. ¡°Evaluated. Ranked. And there will be a challenge.¡±


    I exhaled. ¡°Wonderful.¡±


    ¡°But,¡± she continued, ¡°we don¡¯t want you drawing attention. So, on the day of the challenge¡ª¡±


    ¡°¡ªI shouldn¡¯t stand out too much,¡± I finished for her.


    She nodded. ¡°Not too great. Not too bad. Just¡­ in the middle.¡±


    I frowned slightly but didn¡¯t argue. I understood the logic. But at the same time¡ª


    Hiding forever wasn¡¯t an option.


    ¡°We¡¯ll deal with that later,¡± Father interjected. ¡°For now, we should talk about Bobo¡¯s growth.¡±


    Mother nodded. ¡°Yes. Improving Bobo should be a priority before the registration.¡±


    I exhaled, leaning back a little.


    ¡°Actually¡­¡± I started.


    Both of them turned to look at me.


    ¡°I already have a path planned for him,¡± I admitted.


    Mother blinked. ¡°What?¡±


    Father raised an eyebrow. ¡°You do?¡±


    I smirked. ¡°Yup.¡±


    Mother¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly. ¡°How?¡±


    ¡°Secrets.¡±


    She huffed. ¡°Since when does my child keep secrets from his mother?¡±


    I grinned. ¡°Since always.¡±


    She gave me a look.


    I coughed. ¡°Okay, okay. I¡¯ll explain.¡±


    I took a deep breath, then leaned forward.


    ¡°When I reached True Materialization, my eyes¡­ changed,¡± I admitted.


    Mother¡¯s expression shifted slightly. ¡°Changed?¡±


    ¡°I can see more than just life force now,¡± I explained. ¡°I can see paths. Growth routes. Development possibilities.¡±


    Understanding flickered in her gaze.


    Father let out a low hum. ¡°Interesting.¡±


    ¡°So, with that ability, I looked at Bobo.¡±


    ¡°And?¡± Mother prompted.


    ¡°He has three potential evolution paths.¡±


    Mother¡¯s brows furrowed slightly. ¡°Three?¡±


    I nodded. ¡°The first is his natural progression: the Golden Body lineage, the strongest path that follows his original trajectory.¡±


    She nodded slowly.


    ¡°The second,¡± I continued, ¡°is the Heaven-Sundering Ape. A balanced, highly adaptable evolution.¡±


    She tilted her head. ¡°A more versatile choice, then?¡±


    ¡°Yeah.¡± I exhaled. ¡°And the last one¡­¡±


    I met their gazes.


    ¡°The World-Breaker Ape.¡±


    Silence.


    Mother¡¯s brow creased. ¡°I¡¯ve¡­ never heard of that one.¡±


    Father, however¡ªhis eyes lit up.


    ¡°World-Breaker,¡± he muttered. ¡°Hah.¡± He leaned forward, smirking. ¡°Go for it.¡±


    I blinked. ¡°Huh?¡±


    ¡°The higher you aim, the more you will achieve,¡± he said. ¡°If that¡¯s the strongest path, then go for it, boy.¡±


    I hesitated. ¡°But the requirements¡ª¡±


    ¡°Doesn¡¯t matter,¡± he said. ¡°You have the eyes to guide him. You have the ability to make it happen. And if you need resources¡±¡ªhe grinned¡ª¡°we¡¯ll get them.¡±


    Mother sighed, shaking her head. But she didn¡¯t disagree.


    I exhaled.


    Right.


    No hesitation.


    I looked down at my hands.


    The Ghost Clan. The Abyssal Tower. The Mawling.


    And now¡ªBobo¡¯s evolution.


    So many things ahead.


    But one thing was clear: I had a lot of work to do.


    Just as the room settled into thoughtful silence, a tiny voice piped up.


    ¡°Sooo¡­¡±


    We all turned.


    Lina was perched on the armrest of Father¡¯s chair, legs swinging, her plushie squished against her chest. Her expression was scrunched up in deep, dramatic contemplation, like she¡¯d been pondering the fate of the universe this entire time.


    She tapped her chin. ¡°What I¡¯m hearing is¡­¡±


    Pause.


    Then, with absolute certainty:


    ¡°¡­Bobo¡¯s gonna punch the world?¡±


    I blinked.


    Father grinned. ¡°Something like that.¡±


    Lina gasped, eyes shining. ¡°Oh my gosh.¡± She turned to me, gripping my sleeve. ¡°Big brother.¡±


    ¡°What.¡±


    She inhaled deeply.


    ¡°I need you to train me so I can punch the world too.¡±


    Mother sighed.


    Father laughed.


    I just groaned, rubbing my temples. ¡°Lina¡ª¡±


    ¡°I WILL BEGIN TRAINING TOMORROW.¡±


    ¡°Lina, no¡ª¡±


    ¡°NO ONE CAN STOP ME.¡±


    And with that, she dramatically rolled off the chair, flopped onto the floor like a fallen hero, and just¡­ lay there.


    Face down. Arms outstretched.


    Muttering, ¡°...punch the world¡­ my destiny¡­¡±


    I sighed heavily.


    Father wiped away a tear of laughter. ¡°Well, that¡¯s settled then.¡±


    Mother just patted my shoulder, completely unfazed. ¡°You¡¯ll handle it.¡±


    Lina lifted a single hand weakly. ¡°World domination¡­ begins at dawn¡­¡±


    I buried my face in my hands.


    I was never getting a normal day in this family.

 Chapter 44: Wake Up, Akul

    The night was still. Quiet.


    I sat cross-legged, my grimoire floating before me, its twin-pupiled eye lazily half-lidded, like it was just as deep in concentration as I was.


    Inside, I focused on one thing.


    The Beast Space.


    I could see it, forming in my mind. A vast, empty expanse¡ªnot yet complete, but growing. Bit by bit.


    And damn, was it taking forever.


    I had spent weeks cultivating this space, and it was only halfway there.


    I exhaled through my nose. Frustration gnawed at me, but I pushed it down.


    Father had told me to make it as big as possible.


    I hadn¡¯t questioned it¡ªjust followed his advice, expanding it every single night.


    But now? Now I was starting to understand why.


    Because tonight¡ª


    It was accelerating.


    The flow of mana around me wasn¡¯t just strong¡ªit was unnatural.


    I could feel it pouring in, wave after wave, flooding toward my artifact like a river being redirected.


    My grimoire hummed, pulsing in rhythm with the surging energy, its eye slowly widening as it absorbed more.


    I¡¯d never seen it gather this much before.


    Not even close.


    A deep thrumming filled the air, faint but steady, vibrating against my skin. The pressure was almost dizzying¡ªlike sitting in the middle of a storm, except instead of wind and rain, it was pure mana.


    My fingers twitched.


    This¡­ this was insane.


    How much more could it take in? How much bigger could my Beast Space actually get?


    I had no idea.


    But I wasn¡¯t stopping now.


    I shut my eyes, breathing deep, and pushed further.


    I exhaled slowly, letting my mind settle.


    If I was going to do this¡ªreally do this¡ªI couldn¡¯t just force it.


    I had to shape it.


    So, I imagined myself as a painter.


    The mana flowing toward me? That was the brush.


    The space forming in my mind? That was the canvas.


    And me? I was the one painting.


    I let my focus drift, feeling the currents of mana swirl around me. Instead of fighting it or trying to control every little movement, I dipped my brush into it¡ªguiding, shaping, layering each stroke with intent.


    A vast landscape stretched before me, an empty world waiting to be filled.


    I kept the same style Bobo wanted. The same layout, unchanged, just expanded.


    With every breath, I swept broad strokes across the void.


    Expand.


    The mana surged, weaving through the space, spreading wider, deeper.


    Strengthen.


    Lines of power rippled across the foundation, reinforcing what had already formed.


    Refine.


    I filled in the gaps, smoothing out imperfections, adding depth to what was once just an empty shell.


    It felt¡­ right.


    Like I wasn¡¯t just cultivating.


    I was creating.


    And the more I painted, the more the canvas stretched.


    Bigger.


    And bigger.


    A place not just for one beast. Not just for two.


    But for something far greater.


    And I wasn¡¯t even done yet.


    I lost track of time.


    The brush kept moving. The canvas kept stretching. The mana kept flowing.


    And it still wasn¡¯t enough.


    No matter how much space I shaped, no matter how deep I let it expand, I could still feel something¡ªan edge, a boundary¡ªwaiting to be pushed further.


    How big is this thing supposed to get?


    I had already created something larger than I ever thought possible. And yet¡­ it could still grow.


    I almost hesitated. But then¡ª


    ¡°Make it as big as possible.¡±


    My father¡¯s words echoed in my mind.


    He never explained why. Never told me what the limit should be. Just gave me that one order.


    And if he thought it should be big?


    Then it needed to be big.


    So, I kept going.


    Even as my mind wavered. Even as exhaustion settled in. Even as my body begged me to rest¡ªI pushed a little further.


    More strokes. More layers. More expansion.


    And then¡ªfinally¡ª


    I let go.


    The mana settled. The brush stopped. The canvas stilled.


    You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.


    I exhaled.


    It was enough for tonight.


    Tomorrow was training with Rhyzar. If I pushed any further, I¡¯d be useless. And there was no way I was showing up half-dead to one of his sessions.


    I sank into my bed, barely remembering to breathe before sleep dragged me under.


    Before the Sun, There Was Rhyzar


    The morning was barely a thought in the sky when I felt it.


    A presence.


    It wasn¡¯t loud. It wasn¡¯t overbearing.


    But it was there.


    Waiting.


    I opened my eyes to find my window wasn¡¯t empty.


    Rhyzar stood outside, arms crossed, his silhouette blending into the last stretch of night. The sky behind him was still dark, only the faintest hues of dawn creeping in.


    I squinted. ¡°You have a problem.¡±


    ¡°You have two minutes.¡± His voice was calm, as if standing outside my window before sunrise was the most natural thing in the world.


    I sighed, dragging myself up. Why am I even surprised at this point?


    Two minutes later, I was out the door, Bobo at my side.


    The streets were quiet this early in the morning. Only the dedicated, the desperate, and the dangerous were awake at this hour.


    Rhyzar led the way, his steps steady, measured. He didn¡¯t speak much. He never did unless there was something worth saying.


    But I had a feeling today was different.


    The Forge stood at the heart of the city¡ªthe combat center. A place where summoners and beasts tested their strength against real opponents.


    I had never been inside.


    I had heard about it, though.


    Unlike small-time dueling rings or private sparring grounds, the Forge wasn¡¯t just about fighting.


    It was where people proved themselves.


    Beasts weren¡¯t just trained here. They evolved here.


    It was a massive, open-air coliseum reinforced with enchantments, built specifically to handle the chaos of battle. Tiered stone seating wrapped around the main combat zones, where different ranks fought in regulated matches. Hundreds of fights happened here every day, from casual spars to life-changing duels.


    And today, Bobo was going to have his first taste of it.


    Real combat. No more training dummies. No more controlled sparring.


    Rhyzar led us through a side entrance meant for participants. The moment we stepped inside, the energy shifted.


    The scent of sweat, dust, and mana clung to the air. The sounds of metal clashing, of beasts roaring, of commands being barked¡ªit all hit me at once.


    This wasn¡¯t a place for hesitation.


    This was a battlefield.


    Rhyzar stopped in front of the registration desk, where a sharp-eyed woman looked up from her ledger.


    ¡°Rhyzar,¡± she greeted, barely glancing at me. ¡°Bringing in a fresh one?¡±


    Rhyzar nodded toward me. ¡°Akul. His beast is ready for its first real fight.¡±


    Her eyes finally landed on me. They scanned me, then flicked down to Bobo. She took in his size, his stance, his energy.


    Then she smirked. ¡°Common rank, low tier?¡±


    I shook my head. ¡°Mid.¡±


    Her eyebrow lifted. ¡°Mid-tier, huh? Confident.¡±


    I met her gaze. ¡°Prepared.¡±


    That seemed to amuse her. ¡°Alright, kid. You¡¯re in.¡±


    She scribbled something in her book, then waved toward one of the nearby training rings. ¡°Go over to the mid-tier section. Your first match starts in ten minutes.¡±


    The training rings weren¡¯t massive¡ªjust big enough for one-on-one battles. Enough space for beasts to move, but not enough to run.


    I stepped into the designated ring with Bobo, feeling the weight of the moment settle over me. This was different from anything we had done before. No safety nets. No do-overs.


    Across from us stood our first opponent.


    A lean, yellow-eyed boy about my age. His beast stood beside him¡ªa Daggerfang Lizard, its black scales gleaming under the coliseum lights.


    It wasn¡¯t huge. But it was fast.


    And those fangs?


    Poisonous.


    The boy smirked. ¡°First time?¡±


    I tilted my head. ¡°For Bobo.¡±


    His smirk widened. ¡°This¡¯ll be fun.¡±


    The official raised her hand.


    ¡°Battle¡ªBEGIN!¡±


    And then, the real test started.


    The moment the official¡¯s hand dropped, the Daggerfang Lizard vanished.


    No hesitation. No warm-up.


    One moment, it was standing in place¡ªthe next, it was gone.


    Fast.


    Bobo barely had time to react before a blur of black scales slashed past his side. A sharp hiss followed¡ªthe sound of claws scraping fur.


    I saw a glint of violet.


    Poison.


    ¡°Bobo, MOVE!¡± I snapped.


    The monkey twisted mid-air, flipping away just as the lizard shot past him again. He landed lightly on all fours, his golden fur bristling, eyes locked on his opponent.


    This was different.


    All our training¡ªsparring with the Warforged Ape, dodging Rhyzar¡¯s attacks¡ªnone of it had ever felt this real.


    Bobo knew it too.


    This wasn¡¯t just a fight.


    This was survival.


    The Daggerfang didn¡¯t wait.


    It moved like a shadow with fangs, circling, darting, testing for an opening.


    Bobo tensed, shifting lower to the ground, his tail flicking.


    The monkey had the edge in instinct.


    The lizard had the edge in speed.


    But I could already tell¡ªBobo was adapting.


    The lizard struck again.


    Bobo dodged.


    It struck again.


    Bobo dodged.


    Each time, the gap between attack and reaction shrank.


    Primal Surge was kicking in.


    I felt it through the bond¡ªthe way Bobo¡¯s body sharpened, his reflexes firing faster, his movements flowing smoother.


    He was learning.


    But the lizard wasn¡¯t done.


    The next strike wasn¡¯t a feint.


    It was a trap.


    Bobo twisted to evade¡ªbut the lizard redirected mid-air, its body snapping sideways in an unnatural motion.


    A tail whip.


    BAM.


    Bobo took the hit square in the ribs.


    His body spun, crashing into the dirt.


    I clenched my fists. Damn it.


    Bobo rolled, righting himself fast¡ªbut the lizard was already there, its fangs aimed for his throat.


    NO.


    Bobo¡¯s eyes flashed.


    His tail snapped up.


    In a single motion, he caught the lizard mid-lunge and used its own momentum to flip it over his shoulder¡ªSLAMMING it into the ground.


    The crowd around the ring let out a low murmur.


    I exhaled sharply. Nice.


    The lizard hissed, twisting to its feet. Its sleek body trembled¡ªits movements not as fluid as before.


    Bobo wasn¡¯t the only one learning.


    The Daggerfang was fast.


    Bobo was faster.


    Not at first. But now? Now, he had its rhythm.


    Every strike. Every twitch of its muscles. Every moment before it lunged.


    He was reading it.


    And responding.


    The next attack came¡ªBobo wasn¡¯t just dodging.


    He was countering.


    A claw to the side.


    A tail strike to the jaw.


    A feint that sent the lizard crashing into the dirt.


    The battle shifted.


    It wasn¡¯t hunter and prey anymore.


    It was two predators.


    And Bobo was winning.


    The Daggerfang backed away slightly, its tongue flicking, body lowering.


    I saw it.


    So did Bobo.


    It was preparing for one last attack.


    One last gamble.


    And Bobo?


    He was ready.


    The lizard vanished¡ªa streak of black rushing toward Bobo, fangs wide, aiming straight for his throat.


    Bobo charged forward.


    No hesitation.


    No fear.


    He met the lizard head-on¡ª


    ¡ªthen leaped at the last second.


    The Daggerfang struck nothing but air.


    And Bobo¡ª


    Bobo came crashing down from above.


    His fists clenched. His body twisting.


    Using all the force from his fall¡ª


    BAM.


    A full-power hammer fist¡ªright to the skull.


    The lizard collapsed.


    Dust settled.


    Silence.


    Then¡ª


    ¡°Winner¡ªBobo!¡±


    The ring official¡¯s voice barely registered as the crowd roared.


    I let out a breath.


    Bobo stood there, panting, chest heaving, his golden fur streaked with dust and sweat.


    Then he turned¡ª


    Grinning.


    I smirked. ¡°Good job, buddy.¡±


    He let out a victorious screech, slamming his fists against his chest.


    His first real fight.


    And his first real victory.


    But this was just the beginning.


    Bobo was grinning, his small chest heaving from exertion.


    I was still catching my breath, the thrill of victory fresh in my veins.


    And then¡ª


    ¡°What the hell was that?¡±


    Rhyzar¡¯s voice cut through the moment like a blade.


    I blinked, turning. ¡°What?¡±


    His arms were crossed. His expression? Cold. Unimpressed.


    ¡°Why,¡± he said slowly, deliberately, ¡°did you not use your skills?¡±


    The way he asked it¡ªlike he was genuinely baffled¡ªsent a prickle down my spine.


    I opened my mouth¡ªthen closed it.


    ¡°¡­Uh.¡±


    Rhyzar¡¯s eyes narrowed.


    ¡°Uh?¡± he repeated.


    I shifted. ¡°I mean, Bobo¡ªhe was doing fine¡ª¡±


    Rhyzar tilted his head. ¡°Fine?¡±


    I hesitated. ¡°¡­Yeah?¡±


    A slow, dangerous smile crept onto his lips.


    ¡°I know,¡± he said, voice too calm, ¡°at least three of your skills that could have turned that battle in an instant.¡±


    I swallowed.


    ¡°Bobo¡ªhe needs to grow on his own,¡± I started, but my voice faltered.


    Because I knew.


    I knew he was right.


    And Rhyzar could see it.


    His voice hardened. ¡°You. Are. A. Summoner.¡±


    I clenched my fists.


    ¡°You are his support. You are the strategist. You are the one who should be making sure he doesn¡¯t die.¡± His gaze bored into me. ¡°So tell me¡ªwhat exactly were you doing out there?¡±


    I exhaled slowly. ¡°I was observing¡ª¡±


    ¡°Observing?¡± He laughed, but there was no humor in it. ¡°Observing?!¡±


    Bobo shifted beside me, tail flicking uneasily.


    Rhyzar took a step closer.


    ¡°You stood there,¡± he said. ¡°You stood there and watched. You stood there and held your breath every time Bobo was about to fail. Do you think this is some kind of game?¡±


    I flinched.


    He leaned in. ¡°Do you think that lizard was sparring?¡±


    The air felt heavier.


    ¡°Do you think it wouldn¡¯t have ripped Bobo¡¯s throat out if it had the chance?¡± His voice was a low, sharp growl. ¡°Do you think that in a real battle, your enemy will just¡­ let you watch?¡±


    I exhaled sharply.


    Rhyzar wasn¡¯t angry for the sake of being angry.


    He was angry because he was right.


    I wasn¡¯t in the battle.


    I had been watching.


    Like a spectator.


    Like an outsider.


    Like someone who wasn¡¯t a summoner.


    Rhyzar straightened. His expression didn¡¯t soften.


    ¡°Akul,¡± he said. ¡°Wake. Up.¡±


    Silence.


    I felt my heart pounding.


    Not from the battle¡ª


    From the realization that I had failed.

 Chapter 45: Bobo VS Ignis

    I let out a slow breath, my mind still replaying Rhyzar¡¯s words over and over.


    Wake up.


    I had to wake up; I didn¡¯t win, Bobo did.


    He did all the fighting, all the effort¡ªand I?


    I clenched my fists.


    He was right. Every single word of it.


    I had failed. Not in winning the battle, but in being the master.


    I wasn¡¯t supposed to be a spectator, to cheer. I was supposed to lead.


    I turned to Bobo. He was sitting beside me, breathing heavily, his golden fur matted with sweat and dust. His tail twitched, his bright eyes flickering with exhaustion.


    I did that to him.


    Because I wasn¡¯t doing my part.


    I took a deep breath. No. Not again.


    I looked up at Rhyzar. ¡°I want to do it again.¡±


    He raised an eyebrow. ¡°Again?¡±


    I nodded, standing. ¡°Let me try one more match.¡±


    Rhyzar studied me for a long moment. Then he smirked. ¡°Good.¡±


    I turned to Bobo. He looked up at me, head tilting.


    I placed my hand on his head. ¡°We¡¯re not done.¡±


    His ears twitched. Then¡ªhis tail swayed.


    Even exhausted, he wanted to fight.


    But first¡ªwe needed to recover.


    I placed a hand over my grimoire, feeling the familiar pulse of mana surge through me.


    ¡°Vital Surge,¡± I whispered.


    A warm, golden glow spread from my fingers, washing over Bobo¡¯s body. His ragged breathing evened out, the tension in his limbs relaxing. His muscles restored. His fatigue erased.


    In seconds, he was back at his peak.


    Then I gave him a nutritious snack¡ªa mix of dry Emberpeach slices and crushed Ironcrack Walnuts.


    Bobo huffed, punching his fists together, bouncing on his feet. His energy was back.


    I met his gaze.


    This time¡ªwe do it right.


    I turned to Rhyzar. ¡°We¡¯re ready.¡±


    He smirked. ¡°Then go request another battle.¡±


    This time¡ª


    I wasn¡¯t just going to watch.


    This time¡ª


    I was going to lead.


    ---


    We stepped back into the battle request station. The air inside was thick with the scent of metal, sweat, and mana¡ªeager fighters coming and going, seeking challengers, settling scores, or just testing their limits.


    This time, I was different.


    I wasn¡¯t nervous. I wasn¡¯t second-guessing.


    I was ready.


    Rhyzar leaned against the counter, arms crossed, as I submitted the request. The attendant barely glanced at me before shaking her head.


    ¡°We don¡¯t have any beginners left at this hour. Would you like to take on someone more experienced?¡±


    I nodded. ¡°Is my opponent mid-tier?¡±


    Again, she answered without looking, ¡°Sure.¡±


    ¡°Then no problem.¡±


    ¡°Go wait. We¡¯ll call you when we¡¯ve got someone for you.¡±


    I said my thanks, and then I walked away.


    A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.


    I didn¡¯t have to wait for too long.


    Rhyzar¡¯s armband lit up, and after a small conversation, he looked at me. ¡°You got one,¡± he said.


    That was fast.


    ¡°Who?¡± I asked.


    He smirked. ¡°One of the regulars. Mid-tier common rank.¡± He flicked his gaze over to the waiting area. ¡°You¡¯ll know him when you see him.¡±


    I turned.


    And there he was.


    A teenager, probably sixteen or seventeen, sat on one of the benches, lazily spinning a small silver coin between his fingers. His hair was dark, his eyes sharp¡ªexperienced.


    He wasn¡¯t just here to play around.


    His beast sat beside him.


    At first, it looked like just a large feline¡ªa sleek, black panther-like creature. But then I saw the glow.


    Faint streaks of crimson pulsed through its fur, like veins of molten lava running just beneath the surface.


    And its eyes?


    They burned.


    Literally.


    A faint, simmering red glow flickered in its pupils.


    A fire-type beast.


    This¡­ was going to be different.


    The teenager flicked his coin one last time before catching it midair, standing up. He stretched, rolling his shoulders before locking eyes with me.


    ¡°You¡¯re the new kid who just won a match, right?¡± His voice was casual, uninterested.


    I nodded.


    He smirked. ¡°Alright. Let¡¯s see if you¡¯re really that good.¡±


    His beast growled lowly, molten lines pulsing brighter along its body.


    This wasn¡¯t just a physical opponent.


    This was a whole new battlefield.


    And this time¡ªI was ready to fight back.


    ---


    The arena was a wide, reinforced pit, designed to handle the raw power of summoned beasts. The walls shimmered faintly with protective enchantments, safeguarding spectators from stray attacks. The scent of burned stone and dust lingered in the air¡ªthis was a place of real battle.


    The teenager¡ªour opponent¡ªwalked with easy confidence, hands tucked in his pockets as he entered the ring. He wasn¡¯t cocky, but he wasn¡¯t hesitant either. He knew what he was doing.


    ¡°Name¡¯s Dain Calder.¡± His voice was smooth, relaxed. ¡°Been coming here for a while now. You¡¯re new, right?¡±


    I nodded. ¡°Akul Raiven.¡±


    After I introduced myself, I saw his eyes flicker with recognition.


    I could only assume it was the effect of my last name. But he didn¡¯t comment.


    Instead, he turned slightly and gestured toward his beast.


    ¡°This here is Ignis. A Blazefang Panther.¡±


    The creature let out a low, rumbling growl, the molten veins along its sleek body pulsing in response. With every breath, faint embers flickered from its nostrils, its tail leaving a faint, burning trail against the stone.


    Fire. Fast, lethal, and unpredictable.


    I met his gaze.


    ¡°This is Bobo. A Golden Body Monkey.¡±


    Bobo stood tall, his golden fur gleaming under the overhead lights, eyes sharp, body tense with anticipation.


    Dain raised an eyebrow. ¡°Not a bad species. He¡¯s a pure physical type, right?¡± He smirked slightly. ¡°Let¡¯s see if he¡¯s fast enough.¡±


    I returned the smirk. ¡°Let¡¯s see if yours can keep up.¡±


    The referee stepped forward, raising his arm.


    ¡°BEGIN.¡±


    The moment the signal dropped, Bobo vanished.


    No hesitation. No testing the waters.


    He was gone.


    A golden blur streaked across the battlefield, moving faster than most eyes could track. His feet barely touched the ground before he redirected, bouncing off as light as a feather, circling the Blazefang Panther like a storm.


    Dain didn¡¯t panic.


    ¡°Ignis. Flame Wreath.¡±


    The panther¡¯s molten veins flared.


    The air around it warped, rippling like a mirage, before a ring of fire exploded outward in every direction.


    Bobo dodged in an instant¡ªbut not entirely.


    A flicker of flame licked against his fur.


    I barely had time to get my mind into the battle before I had to activate Vital Surge.


    The moment the skill touched him, the damage faded. His skin regenerated at an unnatural rate, the burned patch gone before he even landed.


    Dain¡¯s eyes sharpened. ¡°Regeneration? Interesting.¡±


    Bobo landed on all fours and snarled.


    My turn.


    I activated Adrenaline Flow.


    Adrenaline Flow temporarily enhances strength and reflexes, making reactions faster. It triggers hyper-awareness, making time feel slower and increasing reaction speed. It boosts muscle efficiency for short bursts of power and speed, and reduces fatigue and pain perception, allowing for prolonged exertion.


    Bobo¡¯s muscles tensed. His heartbeat spiked.


    Then¡ªhe moved.


    Bobo struck like a thunderclap.


    One second, he was a blur¡ªthe next, he was in Ignis¡¯ blind spot.


    His claws raked across the panther¡¯s flank.


    A sharp crack echoed as the impact sent Ignis skidding across the battlefield, paws burning into the ground as it struggled to recover.


    But Bobo didn¡¯t stop.


    He was already attacking again.


    I activated Neural Acceleration.


    Bobo¡¯s mind sharpened¡ªcalculations forming in an instant. It gave Bobo the ability to read his opponent and adapt to the battle in a flash.


    He wasn¡¯t just reacting anymore¡ªhe was predicting.


    Another strike. Another dodge.


    Another hit. Another opening.


    Bobo¡¯s Primal Surge was already starting to kick in. His speed, his strength¡ªall increasing, multiplying the longer he fought.


    Combined with Adrenaline Flow, it gave Bobo the strength and speed to fight any mid-tier beast in his rank.


    Dain¡¯s smirk finally faded.


    ¡°Ignis¡ªScorched Earth!¡±


    The Blazefang Panther let out a howl.


    The ground beneath it cracked, glowing red-hot.


    Suddenly, the whole arena was on fire.


    A searing wave of heat rushed outward, filling the space. The temperature soared in an instant, making the air feel suffocating.


    Bobo faltered.


    Not from fear¡ªfrom the heat.


    The battlefield had changed. The stone beneath him was too hot to stand on for long. Every movement cost more energy.


    Dain exhaled, regaining his composure.


    ¡°Thought you¡¯d have me beat fast, huh?¡± He rolled his shoulders. ¡°Ignis loves a long fight. And fire only burns hotter over time.¡±


    He wasn¡¯t wrong.


    I clenched my fists.


    This wasn¡¯t over.


    Not even close.


    I activated Harmonic Link.


    Bobo¡ªstay focused. Keep moving.


    I felt him respond through the bond. His body burned from the heat, but his mind was clear.


    We weren¡¯t retreating.


    We were adapting.


    I activated Alpha Pheromones.


    For a fraction of a second, Ignis hesitated.


    It wasn¡¯t much. But it was enough.


    Bobo struck.


    His claws dug into the panther¡¯s shoulder, dragging it into a roll before flipping off and landing a few meters away.


    Dain¡¯s eyes widened.


    The Blazefang Panther¡¯s shoulder was clearly bleeding. That attack from Bobo was no joke.


    ¡°You¡ª¡±


    I didn¡¯t let him finish.


    Adrenaline Flow. Vital Surge. Neural Acceleration.


    Every ability I had¡ªI pushed it.


    Bobo became untouchable.


    He was running everywhere, flipping off as burning pillars of flames burst up in his path, maneuvering like an acrobat and striking Ignis at every turn.


    The Blazefang Panther struggled.


    For the first time, it couldn¡¯t keep up.


    Then¡ª


    I saw the opening.


    Dain saw it too.


    The moment Bobo attacked¡­


    He tensed, jaw clenched.


    Then¡ª


    He smirked.

 Chapter 46: A New Lesson.

    ¡°Ignis¡ªBreak Limit.¡±


    A pulse of power erupted from the panther¡¯s body.


    The flames snapped inward, concentrating.


    The temperature spiked again.


    Bobo¡ªhalted.


    Something changed.


    Was that Dain¡¯s trait ability?


    Ignis wasn¡¯t just a fire-type anymore.


    Its veins had turned from molten red to white.


    Dain exhaled, brushing a hand through his hair.


    ¡°Alright, kid.¡± He cracked his neck. ¡°Now we¡¯re really getting started.¡±


    The air exploded¡ª


    And the real battle began.


    Bobo was burning.


    The heat around him twisted the air, his golden fur singeing at the edges. Every breath scorched his lungs. The battlefield had turned against him, but he didn¡¯t waver. He didn¡¯t step back.


    He grinned.


    His fangs bared in excitement, his tail twitching with anticipation.


    I felt it¡ªthrough the Harmonic Link, through the raw connection between us.


    Bobo wasn¡¯t afraid.


    He was thrilled.


    His spirit was alight with something deeper than just survival.


    He wanted this fight.


    I clenched my fists. Then let¡¯s give it everything.


    ¡°Adaptive Growth¡ªActivate.¡±


    The energy surged through Bobo¡¯s body. His muscles tensed, shifted. His neurons fired faster.


    He was evolving¡ªnot in form, but in function.


    Dain¡¯s smirk was gone.


    His eyes locked onto us, sharp and unreadable. ¡°Ignis¡ªpress forward.¡±


    The panther moved.


    No more feints. No more testing the waters.


    It rushed in like a streak of white fire, its paws leaving molten prints in the stone.


    Bobo dodged.


    Barely.


    Ignis¡¯s fangs snapped inches from his throat.


    Then¡ªBOOM.


    A sudden explosion of flame erupted from Ignis¡¯s body, a concussive blast that sent Bobo skidding back against the heated ground.


    I barely had time to process before Ignis was on him again.


    A swipe¡ªdodged.


    A bite¡ªcountered, barely.


    A tail whip¡ªdirect hit.


    Bobo staggered.


    Dain had stopped playing around.


    This wasn¡¯t a fire-type beast anymore.


    This was a living inferno.


    ¡°He¡¯s trying to finish this,¡± I muttered, eyes narrowing.


    The heat was unbearable. The pressure was suffocating.


    But Bobo¡ªBobo was still getting stronger.


    His movements sharpened. His instincts refined.


    The longer he fought, the more dangerous he became.


    Primal Surge. Adrenaline Flow. Adaptive Growth.


    The effects were stacking.


    But we needed an opening.


    Ignis circled, its molten veins pulsing.


    Bobo matched its movements.


    They weren¡¯t just fighting anymore.


    They were hunting each other.


    Dain watched, then exhaled. ¡°Alright, then. Ignis¡ªFinal Ignition.¡±


    The panther let out a piercing roar.


    Then¡ªit exploded.


    Not literally.


    A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.


    But the heat quadrupled in an instant. The ground cracked open beneath it, flames licking upward in twisted spires.


    The battlefield was now a furnace.


    I saw Bobo grimace. His skin was healing from burns faster than ever, but that didn¡¯t change the fact that he was still burning.


    I had to end this.


    I tightened my grip on my grimoire.


    ¡°Bobo. Follow my lead.¡±


    He didn¡¯t hesitate.


    I activated Alpha Pheromones.


    Ignis twitched. A moment¡¯s hesitation.


    That was all we needed.


    Bobo vanished.


    Then¡ªhe struck.


    His fist connected¡ªnot with Ignis,


    but with the ground.


    CRACK.


    The heated stone shattered beneath them.


    An explosion of debris¡ªsmoke¡ªflames¡ª


    Right into Ignis¡¯s face, right into the panther¡¯s eyes.


    And from within the chaos¡ª


    Bobo¡¯s claw found Ignis¡¯s throat.


    The battlefield went silent.


    Ignis¡¯s molten veins flickered¡ªthen dimmed.


    A beat of stillness.


    Then¡ªthe Blazefang Panther collapsed.


    Dain exhaled. ¡°Tch¡­¡±


    Victory.


    The air was still thick with heat. The stone beneath our feet was cracked and scorched.


    But the fight was over.


    Bobo stood tall, his golden fur matted with sweat and ash, but his tail twitched with a satisfied energy.


    He wanted more.


    I could feel it through our bond.


    Dain approached, hands in his pockets, his expression calm but thoughtful. Ignis was behind him, still conscious but lying on its side, flames dimming as it recovered.


    He let out a low whistle. ¡°Damn. Your Bobo can really take a beating.¡±


    I smirked, patting Bobo¡¯s head. ¡°Yeah. He¡¯s built different.¡±


    Dain shook his head, a small grin tugging at his lips. ¡°Nah, it¡¯s more than that. Most beasts would¡¯ve backed off, run away from the flames, from the hurt, avoiding the pain. Stopped fighting the moment things got too intense.¡±


    His gaze flickered to Bobo, who was still standing, still ready.


    ¡°But that guy?¡± Dain nodded toward him. ¡°He wanted to fight. Even when the heat turned up, he went in. Even when the flames burned, he attacked. He just¡ªkept going.¡±


    I shrugged. ¡°That¡¯s just Bobo.¡±


    Dain chuckled. ¡°That¡¯s crazy.¡±


    He stretched his arms, rolling his shoulders. ¡°Man¡­ I thought we had you there for a second.¡±


    ¡°You did.¡± I exhaled, rubbing the back of my neck. ¡°We just didn¡¯t let you keep it.¡±


    Dain snorted. ¡°Fair enough.¡± He extended a hand. ¡°Good fight, Akul.¡±


    I took it. ¡°You too.¡±


    Bobo and Ignis locked eyes for a brief moment.


    A quiet understanding.


    Then Bobo, still twitching with energy, just grinned.


    Dain laughed. ¡°Yeah. He¡¯s nuts.¡±


    I was still riding the high of the battle¡ªthe rush, the way Bobo pushed past his limits, the way we adapted.


    ¡°We won.¡±


    But then¡ª


    ¡°Did you?¡±


    Rhyzar¡¯s voice cut through my thoughts.


    I turned. He was standing there, arms crossed, watching me with that expression of his.


    I frowned. ¡°Yeah. We did.¡±


    He tilted his head slightly. ¡°Did you really?¡±


    I blinked. ¡°What¡ª¡±


    He took a step forward, voice calm. Steady. Sharper than before.


    ¡°You won a battle. But was it a clean victory?¡±


    I opened my mouth, but he kept going.


    ¡°Look at Bobo.¡±


    I turned.


    Bobo was still standing, but his body was worn. His fur singed in places¡ªsmoke coming from his body; that must have hurt a lot, burns always do. His breath was still coming a little faster than normal. He was healing, yes, but if we had gone any longer¡ª


    If there had been another opponent¡ª


    Rhyzar spoke again. ¡°You¡¯ve grown. You supported him. You used your abilities. Good. But you still don¡¯t understand the most important thing.¡±


    I frowned. ¡°Which is?¡±


    He stepped closer, lowering his voice slightly.


    ¡°You don¡¯t just need to fight.¡±


    I swallowed.


    ¡°You need to end the fight.¡±


    I stilled.


    Rhyzar¡¯s gaze was steady, drilling into me like he was waiting for something to click.


    ¡°Bobo fought well. He adapted. He learned. But tell me¡ª¡± He gestured at the battlefield. ¡°How many times did you almost win before it actually ended?¡±


    I didn¡¯t answer.


    ¡°How many openings did you create¡ªbut couldn¡¯t capitalize on?¡±


    The words settled.


    The fight replayed in my mind.


    Bobo had speed. He had endurance. He had adaptability.


    But what he lacked¡ª


    Was a decisive move.


    A finisher.


    A strike that ended the battle the moment we earned that opening.


    Rhyzar nodded, seeing the realization settle in.


    ¡°Your beast is strong, Akul.¡± His voice was calm now, almost quiet. ¡°But in a real fight¡ªone decisive move makes the difference between survival and death.¡±


    I exhaled.


    I hated that he was right.


    Because he was right.


    Rhyzar¡¯s eyes didn¡¯t waver.


    I clenched my fists.


    ¡°You¡¯re focusing on winning,¡± he continued. ¡°On fighting well. On adapting. That¡¯s good. But it¡¯s not enough.¡±


    I frowned. ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    Rhyzar crossed his arms. ¡°What happens in a real fight, Akul? What happens when your enemy isn¡¯t fighting for sport, but for your life?¡±


    I swallowed.


    He gestured toward Bobo. ¡°The longer a battle lasts, the more risks you take. The more opportunities you give your opponent to turn the tables. Like today.¡±


    I stiffened.


    ¡°If you had ended the fight earlier, that trump card wouldn¡¯t have mattered,¡± he said bluntly. ¡°It wouldn¡¯t have been ¡®epic.¡¯ It wouldn¡¯t have been ¡®thrilling.¡¯ It wouldn¡¯t have had a dramatic comeback moment.¡±


    He held my gaze.


    ¡°But you would¡¯ve won without burning. Without Bobo taking unnecessary damage. Without needing to push yourself to the edge.¡±


    I exhaled.


    ¡°Let me put it another way.¡± He took a step closer. ¡°You don¡¯t fight to win.¡±


    I blinked. ¡°I don¡¯t¡ª?¡±


    ¡°You fight to survive.¡±


    The words hit harder than I expected.


    Rhyzar tilted his head. ¡°You can win a battle and still lose everything. Or you can ¡®lose¡¯ the battle but still walk away the real victor.¡± His eyes darkened slightly. ¡°But if you die? That¡¯s it. No more battles. No more victories. No more second chances.¡±


    I gritted my teeth.


    ¡°Even with your healing ability,¡± he continued, ¡°there¡¯s a limit. Your power doesn¡¯t rely on magic¡ªit forces the body to repair itself using its own reserves. That means the more you heal, the more you exhaust your own beast.¡±


    That part stung.


    Because I knew he was right.


    I had felt it when using Vital Surge. Bobo¡¯s body recovered fast¡ªbut it still burned through his stamina.


    ¡°The goal isn¡¯t to fight forever, Akul.¡± Rhyzar¡¯s voice was steady. ¡°The goal is to end the fight as quickly as possible.¡±


    He let that sink in before continuing.


    ¡°You need a move that hurts. A move that ends things. A move that makes sure your enemies don¡¯t get a chance to surprise you.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re thinking it, aren¡¯t you?¡± His voice was low, almost casual. ¡°That what I¡¯m saying sounds cruel?¡±


    I exhaled through my nose. ¡°¡­A little.¡±


    He nodded like he expected that. ¡°It is. But that doesn¡¯t make it wrong.¡±


    I stayed silent.


    Because he was right.


    Again.


    Rhyzar stretched his shoulders, exhaling through his nose. ¡°Alright, we¡¯re done here for today.¡±


    I blinked. ¡°That¡¯s it?¡±


    ¡°You sound disappointed.¡±


    I hesitated. After everything¡ªthe fights, the adrenaline, the intensity¡ªit felt too soon to just stop.


    Rhyzar gave me a knowing look. ¡°Today wasn¡¯t just about fighting, Akul. It was about learning.¡±


    I frowned. ¡°To learn¡­?¡±


    ¡°For you to see it for yourself.¡± He smirked. ¡°Your flaws.¡±


    I stiffened.


    He gestured toward the arena. ¡°You saw it yourself. The gaps in your fighting style. The weaknesses Bobo has. The risks you take. I wanted you to experience it firsthand¡ªso you¡¯d understand why we¡¯re fixing them.¡±


    I exhaled slowly.


    ¡°Tomorrow,¡± he continued, ¡°we start a new kind of training. One that¡¯s going to push both of you past your limits.¡±


    I frowned. ¡°Bobo and I have already been training hard¡ª¡±


    Rhyzar chuckled. ¡°Oh, I know. But what we¡¯ve been doing? That was the foundation.¡±


    I narrowed my eyes. ¡°Meaning?¡±


    ¡°Meaning,¡± he said, turning toward the exit, ¡°you¡¯ve been playing catch-up. But starting tomorrow? You start forging ahead.¡±


    I swallowed.


    ¡°And before you start thinking it¡¯s just Bobo getting the training,¡± he added, smirking, ¡°let me be clear¡ªyou will be training, too.¡±


    I blinked. ¡°Wait, what¡ª?¡±


    Rhyzar clapped a hand on my shoulder, grin widening.


    ¡°You didn¡¯t think you¡¯d get to just stand there forever, did you?¡±

 Chapter 47: The Path of the Breaker

    The walk back was quiet at first.


    The air was cool, the streets half-empty¡ªmost people weren¡¯t awake yet. Only a few early risers were out, opening shops, setting up for the day.


    I was still replaying the battles in my head: the mistakes, the wins, the way Bobo had burned, healed, and burned again, yet never backed down. The way I¡¯d fought¡ªreally fought¡ªfor the first time.


    And then¡ª


    ¡°You¡¯re getting stronger.¡±


    Rhyzar¡¯s voice cut through the silence.


    I glanced at him. ¡°Obviously.¡±


    He snorted. ¡°Still a long way to go, though.¡±


    ¡°Obviously.¡±


    A pause. Then¡ª


    ¡°Your father told me about the Old Bloods.¡±


    I tensed for half a second, then exhaled. ¡°Yeah. That was a surprise.¡±


    ¡°Surprising, wasn¡¯t it?¡± He gave me a sideways glance. ¡°You ever think about what it means?¡±


    I frowned. ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    ¡°An Old Blood clan coming to you. Not the other way around.¡±


    I hadn¡¯t really considered it. I¡¯d been too caught up in the moment¡ªthe egg, the negotiations, the sheer strangeness of it all.


    But he had a point.


    Most people would spend their entire lives without ever meeting an Old Blood. Some didn¡¯t even believe they existed, outside of rumors and ancient records.


    Yet one of them¡ªone of the strongest, most isolated bloodlines in the world¡ªhad come directly to me.


    I didn¡¯t know what to say to that, so I just shrugged. ¡°Guess they had no choice.¡±


    Rhyzar scoffed. ¡°No choice? Boy, you still don¡¯t get it.¡±


    I shot him a look. ¡°Then explain.¡±


    ¡°They didn¡¯t just ¡®find¡¯ you,¡± he said, his tone shifting. ¡°They sought you out.¡±


    I frowned. ¡°What¡¯s the difference?¡±


    Rhyzar glanced at me, then at the sky, as if choosing his words carefully. ¡°The Old Bloods¡­ they don¡¯t move without reason. They don¡¯t make decisions the way normal people do.¡±


    He tapped his temple. ¡°They see things differently¡ªpaths, threads, maybe even futures. I don¡¯t know the details, and I doubt anyone outside their kind does. But when they act, it¡¯s because something pointed them in that direction.¡±


    A pause.


    ¡°They didn¡¯t come looking for you,¡± he said finally. ¡°They came looking for a solution.¡±


    I stiffened. ¡°A solution?¡±


    ¡°To what? No idea.¡± He smirked. ¡°But you fit; that egg should be either very important or very strong.¡±


    I didn¡¯t like how that sounded.


    ¡°¡­So you¡¯re saying they didn¡¯t choose me. Something else did.¡±


    Rhyzar shrugged. ¡°Maybe. Maybe not. But tell me¡±¡ªhe met my eyes¡ª¡°would it make a difference?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know; maybe you¡¯re reading too much into ¡®what ifs,¡¯ and my father told me that men can only live by what they know, not by what they think they know.¡±


    Rhyzar¡¯s smile deepened, more than I¡¯d ever seen. ¡°Truly, Hector¡¯s son.¡±


    ¡°Whose son would I be otherwise?¡±


    He scoffed as he kept walking. ¡°But when they saw you, they didn¡¯t hesitate. They gave you the job, left you with the egg, and¡ª most importantly, they promised you friendship.¡± He tilted his head. ¡°Do you really think that was just coincidence?¡±


    I opened my mouth, but no words came out.


    I didn¡¯t have an answer¡ªat least not one I liked.


    We walked in silence for a moment before he spoke again.


    ¡°The next time you meet them,¡± he said, ¡°I want to be there.¡±


    I frowned. ¡°Why?¡±


    He raised an eyebrow. ¡°Why do you think?¡±


    Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.


    ¡°If you¡¯re there, won¡¯t they recognize who I am?¡±


    Rhyzar snorted. ¡°Boy, you don¡¯t know what you¡¯re talking about.¡±


    I scowled. ¡°If you don¡¯t tell me, how would I know?¡±


    ¡°Maybe the girl didn¡¯t fully see through your veil,¡± he said. ¡°Maybe she wasn¡¯t sure.¡± He glanced at me. ¡°But the mother? She should¡¯ve already seen your true appearance.¡±


    I blinked.


    That made too much sense.


    Lys had been curious, watching me, testing my reactions. But Lady Vaerin had been calm. Still. Cold.


    Like she already knew everything she needed to know.


    Like she had already decided something.


    Rhyzar continued. ¡°Besides, if they¡¯re going to be your friends, wouldn¡¯t it be more polite for them to know who their friend truly is?¡±


    I hesitated.


    I hadn¡¯t even thought about that.


    ¡°¡­You really think they¡¯ll care?¡±


    He smirked. ¡°You tell me.¡±


    I exhaled, crossing my arms. ¡°Fine,¡± I muttered. ¡°Next time, you can be there.¡±


    Rhyzar grinned. ¡°Smart choice.¡±


    I rolled my eyes.


    I wasn¡¯t sure if it was smart, but it was definitely the right one.


    The moment I stepped through the door, I knew I was in trouble.


    Not because I¡¯d done anything wrong¡ªat least not by my standards.


    But because Bobo looked like he¡¯d just survived a natural disaster.


    As a family of beast caretakers, what happened to Bobo was a big NO NO in this family.


    His fur was charred, still smoking in places. Some patches were completely burned off, revealing bare, scorched skin. His tail had a crispy look to it, like it had been left over a campfire for too long.


    And yet¡ª


    He was grinning.


    I barely had time to register my mother¡¯s sharp inhale before¡ª


    ¡°AKUL!¡±


    Lina exploded from the side, lunging straight for Bobo.


    Her tiny hands hovered, trembled, then clamped onto his cheeks. She gasped. ¡°BOBO, YOU¡¯RE BALDING¡ª!¡±


    Bobo chattered loudly in protest, waving his arms as if to say, Oi! The hell are you talking about?!


    My father, who had been quietly watching, finally spoke.


    ¡°¡­What,¡± he said slowly, ¡°happened to you?¡±


    The weight behind his voice made me instinctively straighten.


    I opened my mouth¡ª


    But Bobo beat me to it.


    He puffed up his chest, spread his arms wide, and let out an exaggerated war cry, throwing his fists in the air.


    ¡°OOH OOH¡ª!!¡±


    Lina flinched. ¡°W-Wait, Bobo, don¡¯t move so much! Your fur is literally falling off!¡±


    Bobo ignored her. He started shadowboxing, his little fists whistling through the air. He bounced on his feet, shaking off soot, practically vibrating with excitement.


    Lina¡¯s eyes widened in horror. ¡°NOOOO, STOP! YOU¡¯RE SHEDDING! WE CAN FIX YOU, DON¡¯T LOSE HOPE¡ª¡±


    Bobo didn¡¯t care.


    He was beaming.


    For him, the battle wasn¡¯t a loss. It wasn¡¯t even something to be concerned about.


    It was the greatest day of his life.


    Even though he had been burned, beaten, and nearly collapsed from exhaustion¡ª


    He just wanted more.


    I let out a slow breath.


    Yeah.


    I wasn¡¯t sure when it happened¡ª


    But Bobo was becoming a battle maniac.


    And that was a problem.


    I took one look at my father¡¯s unreadable expression, at my mother¡¯s slowly narrowing eyes, and at Lina¡ªwho looked one second away from bursting into tears over Bobo¡¯s ¡°shedding crisis¡±¡ª


    And I made the executive decision to run.


    ¡°Yeah, yeah, I¡¯ll explain later,¡± I blurted out, already grabbing Bobo and backing away. ¡°I have things to do. Very important things.¡±


    I took another step toward the hallway.


    ¡°Extremely, extremely important things.¡±


    Mother raised an eyebrow.


    ¡°Life-changing things,¡± I continued. ¡°Like, on a scale of one to ten, this is a twelve.¡±


    I was almost at the door.


    Lina whipped around. ¡°Wait, but Bobo¡¯s fur¡ª¡±


    ¡°LATER,¡± I said, practically scooping Bobo up and booking it.


    Father crossed his arms. ¡°Akul.¡±


    I didn¡¯t stop. ¡°SORRY, CAN¡¯T HEAR YOU, TOO BUSY DOING IMPORTANT THINGS.¡±


    Mother sighed. ¡°Akul¡ª¡±


    ¡°¡ªLIKE WORLD-ALTERING, FUTURE-DEFINING LEVELS OF IMPORTANCE¡ª¡±


    I kicked open my door, slammed it shut behind me, and pressed my back against it.


    Silence.


    Then¡ª


    Bobo cackled.


    I shot him a look. ¡°Don¡¯t encourage me.¡±


    I flopped onto my bed, still clutching Bobo, who was grinning like an idiot despite the fact that his fur was half-burnt off.


    I sighed, rubbing my temples.


    Rhyzar¡¯s words echoed in my head:


    ¡°You don¡¯t fight to win. You fight to survive.¡±


    Bobo¡¯s battles today had exposed a glaring flaw¡ªone that I¡¯d be a fool to ignore. He lacked a finisher, a move that could end a fight before an enemy could recover, counter, or adapt.


    ¡°Alright,¡± I muttered. ¡°Let¡¯s see what we¡¯re working with.¡±


    The Grimoire of Twin Reflection floated into my hands, its eye sluggishly blinking open like it had just woken from a nap.


    It pulsed.


    A familiar flood of information hit me all at once:


    Skill options. Evolution routes. Training paths.


    I blinked.


    A lot of skill options.


    I squinted.


    ¡°¡­Huh.¡±


    This was¡­


    A lot.


    Like, an overwhelming amount.


    I stared at the glowing lines of text, scrolling endlessly before my eyes.


    ¡°¡­Where do I even start?¡±


    Bobo tilted his head, peering at the grimoire like he could read it too.


    I flipped through the options, browsing mindlessly like I was scrolling through a menu with too many choices:


    Blazing Claw Rend. Stone-Cracking Fist.


    I clicked my tongue. ¡°Okay. Sounds cool.¡±


    I scrolled further.


    Windpiercer Stomp. Sky-Tearing Leap. Ironhide Counter.


    I raised an eyebrow. ¡°¡­Fancy.¡±


    Bobo nodded, very seriously.


    I kept going.


    Meteor Dropkick. Internal Resonance. Savage Multi-Blitz Barrage.


    ¡°¡­What does that even mean?¡±


    Bobo shrugged.


    I groaned, rubbing my face.


    It was like trying to pick the best dish at a restaurant where everything was written in another language, and I was guessing based on how intimidating the price was.


    I drummed my fingers against the cover of my grimoire, staring at the never-ending list.


    So many directions. So much potential.


    And yet¡ªI wasn¡¯t feeling it. Not yet.


    This was important, but it felt like I was wandering through fog. I was doing something but had no idea if it was the right thing.


    I sighed, flipping through another dozen options.


    Then, somewhere between Vibrational Convergence and Tectonic Momentum Stacking,


    It hit me.


    I froze.


    Slowly, I scrolled back up and re-read one of the descriptions.


    My eyes widened.


    ¡°¡­Wait a minute, isn¡¯t this¡­?¡±


    I almost skipped over it. The list was so long, my brain already turning to mush. But then¡ª


    Folding Fist.


    I stopped.


    Folding Fist.


    I narrowed my eyes at the name. Why does that sound so familiar?


    I skimmed the description, then read it again.


    Then¡ªit clicked.


    Oh.


    I leaned back, blinking.


    Oh.


    This wasn¡¯t just any skill. It was a Breaker Ape¡¯s core technique. And not just any Breaker Ape¡ªthe very first step in the Breaker lineage.


    I exhaled, rubbing a hand down my face.


    I¡¯d been drowning in options, overthinking everything, wondering where to even start. And now?


    Now I had my answer.


    Forget those other skills. If Bobo was going down the Breaker path, then this was where it began.


    Not bad.


    Not bad at all.


    A slow grin crept onto my face.


    ¡°All right,¡± I muttered, sitting up straight. ¡°Let¡¯s see what this thing can do.¡±

 Chapter 48: Building the Foundation.

    The more I read this, the more I liked it.


    I wasn¡¯t even sure when it happened¡ªwhen my casual curiosity turned into real interest, when that interest started to feel like conviction.


    But the more I read, the more certain I became.


    I liked this.


    Why?


    That was the real question.


    Was it because it was strong? Because it sounded cool? Because it fit what I was looking for?


    No. It was more than that.


    I glanced at Bobo. He was sprawled across my bed, lazily scratching his ear, but there was a tension in his muscles¡ªa restlessness that hadn¡¯t been there before today¡¯s battles. He was still wired from the fights, still itching for more.


    That was it.


    Bobo was born for this.


    I wanted Bobo to become a World Breaker Ape.


    My father wanted Bobo to become a World Breaker Ape.


    And the way Bobo fought, the way he threw himself into battle, the way he grinned even when half his fur had been burned off¡ª


    Even Bobo wanted to become a World Breaker Ape.


    This wasn¡¯t just about picking a strong evolution.


    This was a natural path.


    The way Bobo moved, the way he fought¡ªit all aligned perfectly with the Breaker lineage.


    And this?


    This was where it all began.


    I locked onto the name:


    First Evolution: The Fistbreaker Ape.


    The description unfolded in my vision:


    ©¥©¥©¥ ¡ó ©¥©¥©¥


    Fistbreaker Ape ¨C First Step of the Breaker Lineage


    The first evolution of the World Breaker Ape, marking the transition from raw physical might to controlled devastation.


    The Fistbreaker Ape harnesses three fundamental forces:


    Kinetic Compression ¨C Storing energy in the muscles from any movement and releasing it in devastating bursts.


    Reverberation Control ¨C Channeling vibrations through any medium¡ªair, water, solid ground, even an enemy¡¯s body.


    Impact Folding ¨C Strengthening the body''s natural shock absorption while compounding energy into a single, exponentially multiplied strike.


    This stage lays the foundation for mastering Breaker Techniques.


    ©¥©¥©¥ ¡ó ©¥©¥©¥


    I exhaled. This was it.


    The first step.


    So, Bobo will need to learn to do all three of those things before he can become a Fistbreaker Ape.


    And then, right below it¡ª


    Core Skill Required: Folding Fist.


    I focused on the description:


    ©¥©¥©¥ ¡ó ©¥©¥©¥


    This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.


    Folding Fist


    Type: Core Combat Skill


    Category: Kinetic Manipulation


    Grade: High-Tier Common (Potential to Evolve)


    Breakthrough Skill for: Fist Breaker Ape Evolution


    Description:


    A strike that doesn¡¯t just hit¡ªit echoes. Folding Fist compresses and layers kinetic energy before impact, releasing it in cascading shockwaves. A single punch delivers multiple impacts, traveling through surfaces¡ªground, air, water, even an opponent¡¯s body¡ªto strike internal structures directly.


    Warning:


    Uncontrolled folding can shatter bones as easily as enemies. Each fold multiplies force, but exceeding one¡¯s limits can cause self-inflicted destruction.


    Evolutionary Importance:


    Mastery of this technique is a prerequisite for the Fist Breaker Ape evolution. True Breakers don¡¯t just strike¡ªthey collapse defenses from the inside out.


    ©¥©¥©¥ ¡ó ©¥©¥©¥


    I clenched my fist.


    This was perfect.


    A skill that compounded force, making every punch, kick, or stomp exponentially stronger.


    But¡ª


    It was dangerous.


    If Bobo folded too much energy into a single hit without control, he could just as easily shatter his own limbs as he could his opponent¡¯s.


    I closed my eyes, thinking.


    Bobo had the perfect body for this¡ªdense bones, insane endurance, and an ability that made him grow stronger the longer he fought. But even he had limits.


    If he wanted to master this¡­


    He¡¯d have to train his body to withstand its own power. We¡¯d need to start pushing his training to include learning Reverberation, Controlled Impact Folding, and Kinetic Compression.


    And that meant tomorrow¡¯s training was going to hurt.


    A slow smirk tugged at my lips.


    I bet Bobo would love every second of it.


    ---


    I woke up to a weight slamming onto my chest.


    A very loud, very hairy, very annoying weight.


    Bobo.


    I groaned, cracking one eye open. ¡°Really?¡±


    He grinned down at me, teeth bared in excitement, his hands slamming against my shoulders like a drumbeat. He was practically vibrating.


    Oh. Right.


    I sighed. ¡°Bobo. It¡¯s too early for this.¡±


    He didn¡¯t care.


    He wanted training.


    With a dramatic groan, I shoved him off me. ¡°Alright, alright. I¡¯m up.¡±


    He tumbled onto the floor with a squeak but bounced right back up, eyes burning with anticipation.


    I rolled out of bed. My body felt¡­ good. Loose. Relaxed.


    Today wasn¡¯t just any training.


    And I had a feeling Rhyzar wasn¡¯t going to take it easy on us.


    Last night¡¯s cultivation had settled in perfectly. My Beast Space was growing steadily, and the mana flow through my grimoire had been stronger than ever.


    Bobo bounced from foot to foot as I stretched. He was ready to move.


    I wasn¡¯t.


    Not yet, anyway.


    We went through the usual routine¡ªpuzzles first¡ªand I made sure they were harder than yesterday¡¯s. Bobo grumbled and complained, but he still solved them. With the help of my skill Neural Acceleration, the little idiot was getting smarter faster than ever.


    After that, I let the grimoire cultivate while I got ready. The house smelled like breakfast¡ªMother must have been up already.


    As I made my way downstairs, I felt it.


    That familiar weight.


    Like something was already waiting for me.


    And the moment I stepped into the kitchen¡ª


    I saw him.


    Rhyzar.


    Sitting at the table, sipping tea like he owned the place.


    I sighed.


    Of course.


    He raised an eyebrow. ¡°Took you long enough.¡±


    I dropped into my seat. ¡°I was sleeping.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s a waste of time.¡±


    I shot him a look. ¡°That¡¯s called being a functioning human.¡±


    He ignored me, setting his cup down with a soft clink. ¡°Eat. You¡¯re going to need it.¡±


    I frowned. ¡°¡­For what?¡±


    A slow smirk stretched across Rhyzar¡¯s face. ¡°You¡¯ll see. I¡¯ve prepared a special place for us today.¡±


    I had a bad feeling about this.


    Rhyzar stood, stretching lazily. ¡°You should be happy. Excited even. Like you¡¯re going on your first date.¡±


    I blinked. ¡°My first what?¡±


    "You and Bobo will have the best day of your lives," he added. "You should take it as a fun life experience together; you two are inseparable anyway."


    I stared at him.


    Bobo chattered, scratching his ear like he was considering it.


    I groaned. ¡°Can we just go?¡±


    Rhyzar grinned. ¡°That¡¯s the spirit.¡±


    When we arrived, I realized he wasn¡¯t joking.


    The training ground was underground and it was¡­ massive.


    A whole world of obstacles.


    Stone pillars the size of buildings, lined up in a grid. Massive iron poles, suspended over pits. Chains crisscrossing through the air like a web. A dozen different chambers, each packed with bizarre training tools¡ªsome with crushing walls, others with shifting floors. One had floating platforms moving in erratic patterns; another had a series of giant wheels that spun unpredictably, each covered in spikes.


    And then there were the dummies.


    Not just any dummies¡ªsparring constructs, crafted from reinforced material. Some humanoid, some beast-shaped, all exuding a strange, magical presence.


    I turned slowly, taking it all in.


    Bobo¡¯s tail twitched excitedly.


    Even I had to admit¡­ this place was insane.


    Rhyzar clapped a hand on my shoulder. ¡°Don¡¯t get too impressed by all that.¡±


    I frowned. ¡°We¡¯re not using any of this?¡±


    ¡°Oh, we will.¡± He grinned. ¡°Eventually.¡±


    I exhaled. ¡°Right. So, what are we doing first?¡±


    He smirked.


    ¡°Hanging.¡±


    I blinked. ¡°¡­Hanging?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right. Hanging.¡±


    I raised an eyebrow. ¡°You brought me to a place like this¡­ and we¡¯re going to hang?¡±


    ¡°Not ¡®we.¡¯¡± He pointed at me. ¡°You.¡± Then at Bobo. ¡°And you.¡±


    Bobo cocked his head.


    I sighed. ¡°Fine. From where?¡±


    ¡°Your hands.¡±


    I nodded. ¡°Obviously, that¡¯s not so¡ª¡±


    ¡°And Bobo,¡± Rhyzar continued, ignoring me, ¡°will hang from his teeth.¡±


    Silence.


    I turned slowly to look at him. ¡°¡­His teeth?¡±


    Bobo froze.


    Rhyzar just smiled. ¡°Let¡¯s get started.¡±

 Chapter 49: I hate this.

    I felt pathetic in every way, shape, and form.


    Bobo had to hang from his teeth. I had to hang from my hands.


    And I couldn¡¯t even last half as long as Bobo did.


    It started simple.


    ¡°Just hang,¡± Rhyzar had said. ¡°Easy.¡±


    Yeah. Easy.


    I gripped the thick iron bar above me, my arms already burning. The moment I lifted my feet off the ground, I felt it. My body wasn¡¯t built for this. My shoulders protested immediately, and my grip? It was already slipping.


    Meanwhile¡ªBobo clamped his teeth onto a suspended chain, legs dangling in the air like it was nothing.


    Minutes passed. My arms shook. My fingers felt like they were going to rip off.


    Bobo? He just swung back and forth like he was enjoying the breeze.


    My body screamed. My fingers gave out.


    I dropped.


    Bobo was still hanging.


    I panted on the ground, trying to pretend I¡¯d totally meant to fall, while Bobo just hung there, tilting his head like, That¡¯s it?


    I groaned.


    This was going to be a long day.


    ¡°All right,¡± Rhyzar said. ¡°Next.¡±


    He gestured at two objects sitting in the dirt.


    Mine was a massive iron ball.


    Bobo¡¯s was a flat iron slab.


    I frowned. ¡°¡­That doesn¡¯t seem fair.¡±


    Rhyzar grinned. ¡°It¡¯s not.¡±


    I sighed, gripping the thick rope attached to the ball. ¡°What are we supposed to do?¡±


    ¡°Drag it. Fifty meters. No stopping.¡±


    I nodded. Okay. That doesn¡¯t sound too bad.


    Then we started.


    And I realized how foolish I was.


    The ball was heavy. My entire body strained just to make it budge. But at least it rolled.


    Bobo¡¯s iron slab?


    That thing didn¡¯t move.


    Not at first.


    But then Bobo gritted his teeth, dug his claws into the dirt¡ª


    And pulled.


    Slowly, inch by inch, he dragged the massive slab forward. It screeched against the ground, the sheer resistance making my own struggle feel like a joke.


    At first, I tried to keep pace with him.


    But as the distance grew, I fell behind.


    Bobo didn¡¯t slow down. Didn¡¯t complain. Even when his arms shook, even when his legs nearly collapsed, he kept moving.


    I?


    I stopped.


    Again.


    And again.


    And again.


    By the time I was halfway there, Bobo had already finished.


    And the worst part?


    He came back for me.


    Bobo stomped over, hooting encouragements, slapping my back like, Come on, get it together!


    I wanted to die.


    ¡°Next,¡± Rhyzar called.


    I groaned. ¡°You¡¯re actually trying to kill us.¡±


    He smirked. ¡°Not yet.¡±


    He pointed at the next obstacle.


    A boulder.


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    A giant one.


    It sat at the bottom of a hilled path, perfectly round, perfectly smooth.


    I sighed. ¡°Let me guess. We have to push it?¡±


    ¡°Oh, no.¡± Rhyzar grinned. ¡°You have to push it uphill.¡±


    I rubbed my face. ¡°Of course we do.¡±


    ¡°And,¡± he added, ¡°when it rolls back down, you push it up again.¡±


    I glared. ¡°You enjoy this too much.¡±


    Rhyzar didn¡¯t answer, just smiled in that irritating way of his.


    And Bobo?


    Bobo was excited.


    The boulder fought me every step of the way. My legs trembled, my arms ached, and the moment I got it to the top¡ªwhen I let go¡ª


    It rolled right back down.


    And I?


    I collapsed, gasping for breath, hands on my knees, watching the massive thing tumble back to where I started.


    Rhyzar clicked his tongue.


    ¡°No, no, no, no, no¡ª¡±


    I looked up, panting. ¡°What?¡±


    He spread his hands in mock disappointment. ¡°Who told you you could let it roll back down?¡±


    I blinked. ¡°What¡ª?¡±


    ¡°You reach the top, and what? You just let go?¡± He scoffed. ¡°Did I say the exercise was push the boulder up?¡±


    I hesitated. ¡°¡­I mean¡ª¡±


    ¡°No.¡± He cut me off, shaking his head. ¡°You push it up, then you guide it back down. Step by step. Controlling it. Withstanding the pressure the whole way.¡±


    My stomach dropped. ¡°You¡¯re joking.¡±


    Rhyzar smirked. ¡°Do I look like I¡¯m joking?¡±


    I stared at him. ¡°That¡¯s¡ªthat¡¯s not even training, that¡¯s torture.¡±


    He chuckled. ¡°Ah, so you did think it was going to be easy.¡±


    I groaned. ¡°I never said¡ª¡±


    ¡°Oh, no, no, no, Akul.¡± He folded his arms, eyes glinting with amusement. ¡°If I was actually trying to break you, I¡¯d have given you a slab instead of a ball. Maybe made you hang from your teeth, or carry it instead of pushing. You know¡ªreal suffering.¡±


    I fought the urge to throw a rock at his face.


    Bobo, standing beside me, tilted his head, then grinned.


    He liked this.


    Of course, he did.


    I exhaled, looking at the boulder.


    This was stupid.


    This was unfair.


    But¡­


    I wasn¡¯t about to back down.


    I rolled my shoulders, wiped the sweat from my brow, and stepped forward.


    ¡°Fine,¡± I muttered. ¡°Let¡¯s do it right this time.¡±


    Rhyzar smirked. ¡°Exactly.¡±


    The first push wasn¡¯t bad.


    The second?


    Agony.


    Rhyzar¡¯s rule? No using Vital Surge to recover.


    My muscles screamed. My chest heaved.


    Bobo?


    He didn¡¯t stop.


    Even when his legs shook, even when he slowed down, he kept going.


    I?


    Stopped.


    Again.


    And again.


    And again.


    Bobo finished first. Again.


    I hated my life.


    I thought we were done.


    I was wrong.


    ¡°All right,¡± Rhyzar called. ¡°Last one.¡±


    I groaned. ¡°¡®Last one¡¯ better actually mean last one.¡±


    He just smirked.


    I sighed. ¡°¡­What now?¡±


    Rhyzar gestured at the ground.


    Wet sand.


    Deep, soaked sand.


    ¡°You¡¯re going to dig through it.¡±


    I blinked.


    ¡°¡­With what?¡±


    ¡°Your hands.¡±


    I stared.


    ¡°¡­You want me to dig with my bare hands?¡±


    ¡°Yup.¡±


    I exhaled sharply. ¡°Fine.¡±


    I turned to Bobo. ¡°Guess we¡¯re digging, buddy.¡±


    Bobo nodded.


    Then Rhyzar pointed past the wet sand, at a giant slab of solid rock.


    ¡°Oh, not you.¡± Rhyzar grinned at Bobo. ¡°You are digging through that.¡±


    ¡­


    Bobo stared at the rock.


    I stared at the rock.


    Bobo turned to me.


    I turned to Rhyzar.


    ¡°¡­That¡¯s a joke, right?¡±


    Rhyzar just smiled. ¡°Get to work.¡±


    I wanted to believe this wasn¡¯t as bad as the others.


    But it was worse.


    My fingers burned. My nails ached. The wet sand resisted everything¡ªevery handful I scooped out slid right back in.


    Bobo?


    Bobo was clawing through stone.


    Stone.


    His claws scraped, scratched, and chipped at the solid mass in front of him, his whole body straining.


    I had to dig.


    Bobo had to break.


    I didn¡¯t know which of us had it worse.


    By the time we finally stopped, I collapsed.


    I didn¡¯t sit or kneel. I collapsed.


    My arms were useless. My legs trembled. My entire body hated me.


    Bobo?


    Bobo flopped next to me, panting, grinning.


    Rhyzar strolled up, hands in his pockets, completely fine.


    ¡°Not bad,¡± he said. ¡°Not great, but not bad.¡±


    I groaned. ¡°¡®Not great¡¯? I nearly died.¡±


    He shrugged. ¡°You¡¯ll thank me later.¡±


    I didn¡¯t believe him.


    But Bobo?


    Bobo smirked.


    Like he did thank him.


    I slumped against a nearby rock, my entire body shaking. Every muscle in my arms and legs burned, my fingers throbbed, and my back felt like it had been carrying mountains.


    Rhyzar stretched lazily, looking completely unbothered. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll give you a break.¡±


    I barely heard him. My breathing was ragged, my vision still swimming.


    He crouched down, giving me a look. ¡°Well? You gonna sit there like a corpse, or are you gonna do something about it?¡±


    I frowned. ¡°Do¡­ what?¡±


    He smirked. ¡°Use your own abilities, genius.¡±


    Oh.


    I hadn¡¯t actually used Vital Surge or Adaptive Growth on myself before. I¡¯d always used them on Bobo or on others¡ªbut never on me.


    I hesitated for a moment. Then¡ª


    I activated Vital Surge.


    The effect was instant.


    A rush of warmth flooded my limbs. The exhaustion weighing me down lifted, like my body had suddenly decided, Nope, we¡¯re good now. The ache in my muscles dulled, my breath evened out, and my heartbeat slowed to a steady rhythm.


    Then I activated Adaptive Growth.


    And that¡ª


    That was something else entirely.


    It felt like my body wasn¡¯t just recovering¡ªa burning beast was blazing through my veins.


    Every fiber of my being absorbed what I¡¯d just put it through. The strain, the exertion¡ªit wasn¡¯t just healing; it was adapting. Like having a test and instantly knowing all the answers, except it was physical improvement. My body understood what it had gone through, what it needed to change, and it was doing it right then and there.


    It was the best feeling ever. Better than any magic.


    But then¡ª


    A sharp, brutal hunger ripped through me.


    Not from my stomach.


    From everything.


    My whole body screamed for fuel. A deep, gnawing, primal hunger that made my hands shake, made my mouth dry, made every instinct scream at me to consume something¡ªanything.


    I felt like I could tear into whatever was in front of me. If I didn¡¯t control it, I might have¡­


    Rhyzar shoved a pack into my arms. ¡°Eat.¡±


    I didn¡¯t need to be told twice.


    I tore into the food without thinking. Meat, bread¡ªanything I could get my hands on. I devoured it like a starved animal. Bobo was no better, practically inhaling his portion, stuffing his face with zero concern for dignity.


    I barely noticed how much I ate. Only when the hunger finally began to subside did I slow down, breathing hard.


    Rhyzar leaned against a pillar, watching us with amusement. ¡°So. How was it?¡±


    I wiped my mouth, still recovering from what just happened. ¡°¡­It¡¯s insane.¡±


    He grinned. ¡°And now you get it.¡±


    I exhaled, still feeling the lingering effects of Adaptive Growth. My body felt better than before. Stronger. More efficient. It was like every struggle I¡¯d just gone through had already made me better.


    But that hunger¡­


    That was dangerous.


    Rhyzar clapped his hands together. ¡°Alright. Now that you two are back in one piece¡ª¡±


    I blinked.


    ¡°¡­Wait.¡±


    He smirked.


    ¡°No.¡±


    ¡°Oh, yes.¡±


    ¡°No way. That wasn¡¯t all the training?¡±


    Rhyzar chuckled, pushing off the pillar. ¡°Akul.¡±


    I swallowed.


    ¡°There¡¯s always more.¡±


    Bobo jumped to his feet, dancing, as if he wanted more.


    I exhaled.


    I was bonded to a lunatic.

 Chapter 50: The Real Problem.

    ¡°I hate that guy.¡±


    I slammed my spoon into my bowl with a little too much force, the metal clinking sharply against the ceramic.


    Across the table, Mom raised an eyebrow.


    Dad kept eating.


    Lina froze.


    Then¡ª


    ¡°Who?!¡±


    I barely had time to blink before she was on me, tugging at my sleeve, eyes blazing with righteous fury.


    ¡°Who hurt you, Akul?!¡± she demanded. ¡°Who do I have to bite?!¡±


    ¡°Rhyzar.¡± I glared at my soup like it had personally offended me. ¡°He¡¯s evil. Pure evil.¡±


    Lina gasped so loudly it echoed through the room. ¡°That bastard!¡± She clenched her tiny fists, practically vibrating with rage. ¡°What did he do?¡± Lina¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°Did he try to kill you? Did he insult you?! Did he¡ª¡± She gasped again. ¡°Did he say you¡¯re ugly?!¡±


    Mom coughed to hide her laughter.


    Dad didn¡¯t even look up.


    ¡°Lina,¡± I groaned. ¡°No one called me ugly¡ª¡±


    ¡°Oh, okay.¡± She relaxed. Then¡ªher fists clenched again. ¡°But what did he do?!¡±


    I sighed, stabbing at my food with all the enthusiasm of a man who had just lost everything. ¡°He made me suffer, that¡¯s what he did.¡±


    Lina¡¯s eyes darkened. ¡°Tell me everything.¡±


    I sighed dramatically. ¡°He tortured me.¡± I gestured vaguely with my spoon. ¡°He made me hang until my arms were jelly, made me drag weights across the ground until my limbs went numb¡ªthen he made me push a boulder uphill. A boulder. And just when I thought I was done¡ª¡± I dropped my spoon dramatically. ¡°Surprise! I had to guide the boulder back down. Slowly. Like it was some delicate treasure instead of a giant, soul-crushing rock.¡±


    ¡°I had to guide it all the way back down.¡±


    I leaned back with a heavy sigh. ¡°And I had to do it over and over again. Up, down, up, down¡ªlike some cursed human pulley system.¡±


    Lina¡¯s jaw dropped, eyes widened. ¡°So he really did try to kill you!¡±


    ¡°No! I mean¡ªnot technically, but it felt like it.¡±


    Lina gasped. ¡°THAT MONSTER.¡±


    Mom pinched the bridge of her nose. ¡°Lina¡ª¡±


    ¡°No, Mother, we must take action.¡± She slammed a tiny fist on the table. ¡°I knew Rhyzar was evil. I knew it. The first chance I get, I¡¯m biting him.¡±


    Dad sighed. ¡°You are not biting Rhyzar.¡±


    ¡°I will.¡±


    ¡°You won¡¯t.¡±


    ¡°Well, then I¡¯ll kick him in his ouchie.¡±


    I groaned, dropping my head onto the table. ¡°Please, someone take her away.¡±


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    Mom just smiled into her tea. ¡°You did say you wanted motivation.¡±


    ¡°I did not.¡±


    Dad finally spoke, his voice calm as ever. ¡°And Bobo?¡±


    I froze.


    The question hit harder than I wanted to admit.


    Because Bobo?


    Bobo didn¡¯t just endure.


    He thrived.


    I swallowed, memories flashing through my mind¡ª


    The way Bobo pushed himself, the way he fought through exhaustion, the way he never stopped moving. Even at his limit, he kept going.


    I forced a casual shrug, shoving a spoonful of food into my mouth. ¡°Bobo was fine.¡±


    Dad just nodded like he already knew.


    But Lina?


    Lina narrowed her eyes, her tiny fingers tapping against the table. ¡°Wait.¡±


    I stiffened.


    ¡°Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait.¡±


    I suddenly regretted speaking.


    ¡°You hate Rhyzar,¡± she began, ¡°you suffered, but Bobo was fine?¡±


    I opened my mouth¡ª


    ¡°HMMMMMMMMMMMM.¡±


    My eye twitched.


    She grinned. ¡°Akul¡­¡±


    I braced myself.


    ¡°Did Bobo beat you?¡±


    I twitched again. ¡°It¡¯s not a competition, Lina¡ª¡±


    ¡°He totally beat you.¡±


    ¡°Lina¡ª¡±


    ¡°OH MY GOD.¡± She grabbed my arm, shaking me violently. ¡°BOBO IS STRONGER THAN YOU?!¡±


    ¡°That is NOT what I said¡ª¡±


    ¡°YOU LOST TO A MONKEY, AKUL!¡±


    Mom was wheezing.


    Dad just sipped his tea.


    I groaned, slamming my head against the table. ¡°Lina, please¡ª¡±


    ¡°NO, NO, THIS IS IMPORTANT.¡± Lina climbed onto my chair, grabbing my face between her hands, her expression deadly serious. ¡°Akul.¡±


    I exhaled. ¡°What.¡±


    Her round, worried eyes looked directly into mine.


    ¡°I need to know, Akul.¡±


    ¡°¡­Are you weak?¡±


    I flinched.


    Because this time¡ªshe wasn¡¯t teasing.


    She was really asking, genuinely worried, as if she were about to learn some untold, forbidden secret.


    I opened my mouth¡ªbut I felt ashamed.


    Lina waited, watching.


    I clenched my fists under the table.


    I wasn¡¯t weak.


    But Bobo had something I didn¡¯t.


    When he hit his limit, he kept going.


    When I hit mine, I¡­ hesitated.


    Lina¡¯s grip tightened. ¡°You¡¯re my big brother,¡± she whispered. ¡°You¡¯re not weak.¡±


    I swallowed hard.


    Dad leaned back. ¡°You don¡¯t need to compare yourself to Bobo.¡±


    I exhaled. ¡°I know, but¡ª¡±


    ¡°But,¡± he interrupted, ¡°you should learn from him.¡±


    I looked up.


    Mom hummed, watching me carefully. ¡°Bobo isn¡¯t stronger than you, Akul. He just knows how to endure.¡±


    I pressed my lips together.


    Endurance.


    Not just physically.


    Mentally.


    Emotionally.


    Dad set his spoon down. ¡°So. What are you going to do about it?¡±


    Lina was still holding my face.


    I took a slow breath and met Dad¡¯s gaze.


    ¡°¡­Train harder.¡±


    A slow smirk tugged at his lips. ¡°Good.¡±


    Lina finally let go, but she grinned. ¡°Damn right you will.¡± She nodded to herself, as if coming to a life-changing decision. ¡°Alright, that¡¯s it. I¡¯m coming with you next time.¡±


    I blinked. ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°You heard me!¡± She puffed out her chest. ¡°I¡¯m going to be there. You need someone to guide you. Motivate you. Inspire you.¡±


    I stared at her. ¡°Lina, you¡¯re five¡ª¡±


    ¡°AND A HALF.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re five,¡± I repeated flatly.


    ¡°And yet, I am clearly the only one here with a solid plan!¡± She jabbed a finger at me. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Akul. I¡¯ll keep you on track. I already planned everything.¡±


    I gave her a look. ¡°Oh, really?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡± She crossed her arms. ¡°First, I will watch and cheer you on. Then I will shout at you when you start slacking. Then, when you look like you¡¯re about to die, I will rush in and save you¡ª¡±


    ¡°Lina¡ª¡±


    ¡°And if Rhyzar is too mean, I will bite him.¡±


    Mom choked on her tea.


    Dad just sighed. ¡°Lina, you are not biting Rhyzar.¡±


    ¡°I will if I have to.¡±


    ¡°You will not.¡±


    ¡°Only if I have to.¡±


    ¡°You will not.¡±


    ¡°I will¡ª¡±


    Before she continued, Dad gave her that piercing look.


    ¡°¡­I will think about it.¡± Lina smiled sheepishly.


    I rubbed my temples. ¡°Lina, you are not coming.¡±


    ¡°Oh, but I am.¡± She grinned. ¡°And there is nothing you can do to stop me.¡±


    I groaned.


    This was going to be a disaster.


    Dad set his cup down with a quiet clink. ¡°Oh, right. Rhyzar will be here tomorrow.¡±


    I barely registered the words before he continued¡ª


    ¡°You¡¯ll be spending the whole day with him.¡±


    Silence.


    Then¡ª


    ¡°No.¡±


    Pure, unfiltered dread crashed over me. ¡°No, no, no, absolutely not. I¡¯m still recovering! My body is broken! My spirit is shattered! My¡ª¡±


    ¡°Stop your nonsense.¡± Dad shot me a flat look. ¡°It¡¯s time. Anyway, prepare yourself. He¡¯ll be here first thing in the morning.¡±


    I slumped in my chair, staring at my plate in quiet despair. First thing in the morning? The whole day?


    I wasn¡¯t even being given time to mentally process my suffering.


    The table was silent for a moment.


    Then, slowly, I lifted my head. ¡°¡­What are we doing?¡±


    Dad shrugged. ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡±


    I stared at him. ¡°You don¡¯t¡ª¡±


    ¡°He just said it¡¯s something ¡®special.¡¯¡±


    That didn¡¯t make me feel better.


    Dad took another sip of his tea, completely unbothered by my impending doom. ¡°He also said it was something Bobo would like.¡±


    Across the table, Bobo perked up. His tail flicked.


    He grinned.


    I immediately felt worse.

 Chapter 51: Under Surveillance.

    The morning sun had barely risen, but everyone was already gathered.


    Rhyzar stood at the entrance, relaxed as ever, arms crossed, his usual smirk playing on his lips. Dad was there, watching with his customary calm. Mom stood beside him, sipping her morning tea like this was just another day.


    And then there was Lina.


    Lina, who had been watching Rhyzar since the moment he arrived.


    She hadn¡¯t said a word. She hadn¡¯t thrown a tantrum. She hadn¡¯t even greeted him.


    She just¡­ stared.


    Hard.


    She chewed on her plushie like a beaver gnawing on wood, her tiny jaw working furiously. Every few moments, she would stop, pace, turn back, and continue biting.


    Rhyzar blinked at her. Then he looked at Dad. ¡°Uh¡­ what¡¯s going on with this one?¡±


    Dad waved a dismissive hand. ¡°Don¡¯t mind her.¡±


    Rhyzar raised an eyebrow but shrugged it off. ¡°Alright then. Let¡¯s go¡ª¡±


    Before we could move, Lina stepped forward.


    The whole room went still.


    She marched straight up to Rhyzar, stopped in front of him, and beckoned him down with one small hand.


    Rhyzar glanced at me. I had no idea what was happening.


    Cautiously, he leaned down.


    Lina cupped her hands around his ear and whispered, voice low and serious¡ª


    ¡°I¡¯m watching you.¡±


    Then, without another word, she turned on her heel and walked away, her plushie swinging in her grip.


    Silence.


    Rhyzar blinked after her, brow furrowing. ¡°¡­What.¡±


    Dad sipped his tea. ¡°Don¡¯t mind her.¡±


    I sighed. ¡°Too late.¡±


    Bobo cackled.


    I stepped outside, expecting to see a carriage. Maybe some magical beast-drawn transport. Something reasonable.


    Instead¡ªnothing.


    Just the open sky, the crisp morning air, and Rhyzar standing like he wasn¡¯t about to drop a bomb on me.


    I frowned. ¡°Uh¡­ how are we getting there?¡±


    Rhyzar grinned. ¡°We¡¯re flying.¡±


    I blinked. ¡°Flying?¡±


    He reached into his jacket and pulled out something that looked like a mix between a mask and a pair of goggles¡ªthick, slightly tinted lenses with a lower half wrapping around like a breathing mask.


    ¡°Put this on,¡± he said. ¡°You¡¯ll need it to breathe.¡±


    That made me pause. ¡°¡­Breathe?¡±


    ¡°Yeah.¡±


    I narrowed my eyes at him. ¡°Why would I need help breathing¡ª¡±


    Then he waved his hand.


    The air shifted.


    A shadow loomed over us.


    I tilted my head up¡ª


    And up.


    And up.


    A massive figure took shape, blocking out the sun. Wings, monstrous in size, stretched wide, sending a gust of wind rolling through the yard. Feathers shimmered like polished obsidian, catching the light with an unnatural gleam.


    A beak like sharpened steel. Talons that could crush a carriage.


    A creature so large it looked like a building.


    I stared.


    The ground trembled slightly as the beast settled, its piercing golden eyes locking onto me with an intelligence that sent chills down my spine.


    It was a bird.


    No¡ªnot just a bird.


    Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.


    A behemoth of the sky.


    I swallowed. ¡°Uh¡­¡±


    Rhyzar clapped a hand on my shoulder. ¡°Better put that mask on, kid.¡±


    I did.


    This creature was massive.


    Did I say massive?


    I meant massive.


    So big I could¡¯ve walked around on its back like strolling through my living room. Actually, bigger than my living room. It was less like riding a beast and more like standing on a floating island with wings.


    Its talons alone? Bigger than my entire body. That beak? It could¡¯ve swallowed ten of me in one gulp and still had room for dessert.


    It was that massive.


    And now, I was standing on it.


    Correction: I was barely staying on it.


    The moment we took off¡ª


    I lost all sense of control.


    The force slammed into me like a physical wall. Wind roared past, pressing against my chest, my limbs, everything. It felt like being hit by an avalanche made of air. My legs buckled, and if it weren¡¯t for Rhyzar gripping the back of my collar, I would¡¯ve been blown clean off.


    Bobo clung to my shoulder, fur flattened against his body, looking like he regretted every life choice that led him here.


    ¡°Relax,¡± Rhyzar said casually, as if we weren¡¯t tearing through the sky at impossible speed. ¡°The wind won¡¯t kill you. Probably.¡±


    ¡°Probably?!¡±


    I tried looking down.


    Bad idea.


    The city was already a blur behind us. One second it was there¡ªthe next, it was gone. The world streaked past in stretched-out colors, everything below warping into indistinct shapes. Trees, rivers, valleys¡ªall blending together, consumed by the sheer velocity.


    Mountains.


    That was our destination.


    A vast, towering range loomed ahead, stretching endlessly across the horizon. Peaks rose like jagged fangs, shrouded in mist and wisps of clouds.


    And we were heading straight for them.


    As we got closer, I saw a massive fortress.


    No simple fortress, though. The fortress was the mountain¡ªand the mountain was the fortress.


    It wasn¡¯t just built into it; it bled into the stone itself, like the mountain had grown around the structure for centuries, swallowing it whole but never breaking it. Towering steel walls, reinforced with obsidian-black plating, jutted out from the rock face like jagged teeth. Watchtowers lined the ridges, their sharp spires stabbing toward the sky, each manned by figures in dark uniforms.


    And the people?


    They were everywhere.


    Not with the chaotic bustle of a city or the aimless wandering of a civilian settlement¡ªno, this was something else. Purpose was what defined this place. Every single person was doing something¡ªtraining in tight formations, sparring in open courtyards, patrolling the perimeter with disciplined efficiency.


    Even from up here, I could see how they moved¡ªsharp, controlled, relentless.


    They weren¡¯t just soldiers. They were something more.


    And the birds¡ª


    Bobo tapped my shoulder, pointing down, and I followed his gaze.


    There were dozens of them. The same gargantuan creatures we rode perched along ridges and landing platforms carved into the cliff. Each one stood like an unshakable pillar of power, talons gripping stone and steel. Some rested, some preened their feathers, but many prepared for flight¡ªsoldiers strapping on harnesses, checking gear with practiced precision.


    This wasn¡¯t just a fortress.


    This was a stronghold. A place built for war.


    And we weren¡¯t stopping there.


    We were heading past it.


    Rhyzar stood near the front of the beast, arms crossed, expression unreadable. The wind whipped at his coat, but he barely seemed to notice.


    ¡°We¡¯re not stopping?¡± I asked, raising my voice over the roaring air.


    He smirked. ¡°No.¡±


    I frowned. ¡°Then where¡ª¡±


    ¡°Look ahead.¡±


    I turned.


    Beyond the fortress, deeper into the mountain range, something else loomed.


    The wind howled as we descended.


    The fortress was already behind us, fading into the distance as Rhyzar¡¯s massive bird carried us downward.


    The descent was too smooth.


    For such a behemoth, I expected turbulence, roaring winds, maybe a stomach-turning drop. Instead, the creature adjusted its wings, angling downward in a slow, controlled glide¡ªsilent, calculated, almost unnatural in how effortless it seemed.


    Mountains turned to shadows, the sky shrank into a thin band of light, and below¡­


    A hole.


    No¡ªa crater.


    Massive. Endless. A wound in the world that shouldn¡¯t exist.


    The closer we got, the more I felt it.


    It swallowed light. A pull, a weight in the air pressing against my chest. This wasn¡¯t just darkness¡ªit was something unsettling.


    The edges weren¡¯t jagged like a collapse or landslide¡ªno, it was something else. Something intentional.


    It felt less like a place¡ªmore like an open mouth, waiting.


    Even Bobo, usually thrilled by danger, went still. His ears twitched, his tail flicked, but he made no sound. He just watched.


    Rhyzar stood at the front, arms crossed as usual.


    The beast touched down without a sound, claws sinking into stone like it was flesh. Instantly, the air around us shifted¡ªthicker, heavier, as though the air wasn¡¯t just air anymore. Like something else was pressing in.


    I wasn¡¯t the only one who noticed.


    And then¡ª


    She appeared.


    No sound. No movement. No shift in the air.


    One moment, it was me, Bobo, and Rhyzar.


    The next¡ªshe was there.


    Standing in mid-air, just outside the bird¡¯s path.


    She was there.


    Standing, waiting, watching.


    A figure cloaked in darkness, as though she were the shadows themselves. Her body was draped in black, flowing robes woven with feathers darker than night. Her face¡ªwhat little I could see¡ªwas hidden behind a mask. A white mask, smooth and featureless, save for small, blood-red dots lining the forehead.


    My stomach tightened.


    I had questions, so many questions¡ªlike, was she even human?


    Something about her presence felt¡­ wrong.


    Yet Rhyzar barely reacted.


    He only nodded. ¡°Prepare the mark.¡±


    She bowed her head. ¡°It is ready, my lord.¡±


    His voice didn¡¯t shift. ¡°Make it worth his time.¡±


    She bowed slightly again. ¡°Yes, my lord.¡±


    That tone. That obedience.


    My mind filled with questions.


    Who was Rhyzar, really? How strong was he, and who was he to this person?


    I didn¡¯t have time to ask.


    He turned to me.


    ¡°Five hours. Survive.¡±


    I blinked. ¡°¡­That¡¯s it?¡±


    ¡°If you find a way out, leave. If not, stay.¡± A smirk. ¡°But don¡¯t waste the opportunity.¡±


    His bird shifted its wings, preparing to ascend.


    I clenched my jaw. ¡°¡­Any restrictions?¡±


    ¡°None.¡±


    Rhyzar¡¯s smirk deepened. ¡°Go all out, boy. Hold nothing back!¡±


    I barely had time to process those words before¡ª


    The masked woman moved.


    A single step forward¡ª


    And the sigil beneath me pulsed.


    Purplish black energy enveloped me.


    A force gripped me, yanking at my bones. My stomach lurched.


    The air split.


    No warning¡ªjust a sudden, gut-wrenching shift¡ª


    Like the universe had blinked.


    Space folded.


    For a fraction of a second, I wasn¡¯t anywhere. Not in the sky. Not on the ground.


    My vision fractured¡ªshapes blurred, colors bled into each other.


    And then¡ªlike a gust of wind¡ª


    ZWUFFF.


    I staggered forward, boots scraping against solid ground. My knees nearly buckled.


    Cold. Damp. Stale air.


    A tunnel.


    The sigil was gone.


    The masked woman was gone.


    Rhyzar was gone.


    But something else was here.


    A sound.


    A scrape.


    A shift against stone.


    And then¡ª


    A second sound.


    A third.


    Dozens.


    I clenched my jaw. Alright.


    Let¡¯s begin.

 Chapter 52: The Breaking Point

    The moment my feet hit the ground, I summoned my grimoire.


    It flickered into existence before me, floating effortlessly, its dark cover pulsing with a slow, rhythmic thrum. The single eye embedded in the front blinked open¡ªgroggy, sluggish¡ªbefore snapping to full awareness. It watched me, watched the tunnel.


    Bobo landed beside me without a sound. His tail flicked once. His ears twitched. He crouched low, eyes narrowing at the darkness ahead.


    He felt it too.


    Something was here.


    I held my breath, listening.


    The silence was thick. Heavy. The kind of quiet that wasn¡¯t really quiet¡ªthe kind that pressed against your skin, against your mind. A hollow stillness, too perfect to be natural.


    Then¡ª


    Scrape.


    A faint shift against stone.


    Distant, but not distant enough.


    I inhaled slowly, forcing myself to think. Options.


    The tunnel stretched forward into the unknown. Pitch black. No light, no visibility.


    I had two choices.


    First: The Divine Eye of Origin.


    It would show me potential, scan the world for possibilities. It had always been my guide¡ªhelping me see paths, helping me understand.


    But right now?


    Right now, I didn¡¯t need possibilities. I didn¡¯t need a guide.


    I needed an executioner.


    I closed my eyes.


    The Abyssal Eye of Ruin.


    I exhaled.


    And then¡ªI opened my eyes.


    Everything snapped into existence.


    One moment, there was nothing¡ªjust endless, suffocating darkness. The next¡ªI saw everything.


    Not just the tunnel. Not just the path ahead.


    Everything.


    The world was no longer a void. Every surface, every stone, every tiny imperfection in the rock was laid bare to me.


    The walls weren¡¯t just solid structures anymore¡ªthey were weaknesses waiting to be exploited.


    My gaze flickered across the tunnel, and instantly¡ªmy mind processed all of it.


    A jagged outcrop along the right wall? Brittle. Weaker than the rest. One well-placed strike could collapse that entire section.


    A formation of stalactites above? Some thinner, more fragile¡ªone precise impact could send them crashing down like a spiked deathtrap.


    Even the ground beneath me wasn¡¯t perfect. Tiny, near-invisible fractures in the stone hinted at natural instability. I could use that.


    And then I noticed something else.


    Not just the terrain.


    Not just the battlefield.


    The enemies.


    I turned my head slowly¡ªand I saw them.


    They weren¡¯t human. Not even close.


    Skeletons.


    Not just one. Not just two.


    A wave of them.


    Hundreds.


    Spines twisted unnaturally, limbs held together by dark energy, moving in eerie synchronization. Some walked upright, their empty sockets glowing with flickers of ghostly blue. Others crawled on all fours, jagged bones scraping against stone.


    And they were all coming straight for me.


    I exhaled.


    My grip on the grimoire tightened.


    This wasn¡¯t like training. This wasn¡¯t Rhyzar standing over me, grinning while I struggled through exercises.


    This was real.


    No resets. No stopping. No second chances.


    Survive. That was the only rule.


    I felt something coil in my chest¡ªanticipation.


    A slow smirk tugged at my lips.


    ¡°All right,¡± I murmured.


    Bobo bared his teeth, dropping low into a battle stance. His golden fur bristled, claws flexing. He was ready.


    I adjusted my footing, rolling my shoulders.


    No hesitation. No holding back.


    I let the Abyssal Eye of Ruin take over completely.


    And then¡ª


    I moved.


    I didn¡¯t hesitate.


    You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.


    The moment the first wave closed in¡ªI acted.


    Adrenaline Flow ¡ª activated.


    Heat rushed through Bobo¡¯s veins. His heart pounded with excitement. The world sharpened; his senses kicked into overdrive.


    Harmonic Link ¡ª activated.


    The connection between Bobo and me snapped into place, tightening like a thread of pure instinct and command.


    Neural Acceleration ¡ª activated.


    The battlefield slowed; my thoughts accelerated.


    And with that¡ª


    I took control.


    ¡°Bobo¡ªforward, left flank! Target the joints!¡±


    Bobo lunged like a blur of golden fury, claws tearing through bone with precise, vicious efficiency. His first swipe snapped a skeleton¡¯s knee, sending it crumbling before it could react. His second strike dug into a ribcage, shattering it like brittle wood.


    The Abyssal Eye of Ruin guided my every call.


    I saw weaknesses¡ªhairline cracks in femurs, misaligned vertebrae, stress fractures in skulls.


    I didn¡¯t just see them. I commanded Bobo to destroy them.


    ¡°Next one¡ªupper spine, two strikes! Then disengage¡ªbehind you!¡±


    Bobo ducked, swiping upward in a brutal arc¡ªCRACK. The skeleton¡¯s spine shattered, and before the others could react, he was already gone.


    It was perfect.


    These enemies were weak.


    This was easy.


    For the first few minutes, we dominated.


    Every command I gave was followed to perfection.


    Every weak point I saw, Bobo exploited instantly.


    We weren¡¯t just fighting¡ªwe were dismantling them.


    Until¡ª


    Something changed.


    The skeletons kept coming.


    A dozen turned into two dozen.


    Two dozen turned into fifty.


    Fifty turned into a flood.


    At first, it didn¡¯t matter. We adapted, cutting them down as fast as they came.


    Then¡ªBobo hesitated.


    For the first time, he didn¡¯t listen.


    At first, it was subtle¡ªa half-second delay, a missed window. But as the enemy numbers increased, that half-second became a full second.


    Then two.


    Then three.


    And suddenly¡ªwe weren¡¯t in control anymore.


    Suddenly, Bobo wasn¡¯t just fighting¡ªhe was reacting.


    And my orders?


    They weren¡¯t wrong, but they weren¡¯t right either.


    ¡°Go left¡ªno, wait¡ª¡±


    Bobo had already moved. Too late.


    ¡°Duck¡ª!¡±


    He wasn¡¯t ducking. He was pouncing.


    It felt off. Not because I was making mistakes, but because the battle moved too fast for me to keep up.


    Too fast for me to speak, too fast for commands.


    I saw Bobo faltering.


    His movements were still sharp. His strikes still landed. But I felt it¡ªsomething was wrong.


    Then it hit me.


    I was slowing him down.


    It wasn¡¯t just the number of enemies; it was me.


    Bobo wasn¡¯t fighting on his own rhythm anymore¡ªhe was fighting on mine.


    And my rhythm was too slow, too different.


    I gritted my teeth.


    ¡°Bobo, retreat¡ª¡±


    But Bobo wasn¡¯t retreating.


    He staggered, ducking low, tail thrashing. His fur bristled, stance changed. He was pushing forward, fangs bared, claws tearing through bone.


    Instinct.


    Bobo wasn¡¯t just following me anymore.


    He was listening to himself.


    ¡°Bobo, retreat¡ª!¡±


    He ignored me.


    He rushed forward.


    Damn it.


    My commands and his instincts were colliding.


    I wanted strategy. He wanted battle.


    I saw it happening, but I couldn¡¯t stop it.


    Too many enemies. Too many angles. Too much pressure.


    And then, I felt it¡ªlike drowning.


    Like being trapped underwater, lungs burning, limbs flailing, the surface just out of reach¡ªbut no matter how hard I kicked, no matter how desperately I tried to break free, a weight kept pulling me down.


    Bobo was slipping.


    He was still fighting, still throwing himself into the horde, ripping through bone like a force of nature¡ªbut his movements were slowing, his breathing turning ragged.


    No matter how many he shattered, more came.


    More.


    And more.


    Suddenly, he was getting hit.


    A clawed ribcage slashed across his side¡ªhe staggered. Another skeleton lunged from behind¡ªI barely shouted in time for him to dodge.


    We were losing ground.


    We were no longer in sync.


    I clenched my jaw.


    ¡°Bobo¡ªback up! Now!¡±


    He growled.


    Pure, unshaken battle instinct. He was overflowing with adrenaline.


    Even as we were overwhelmed.


    He didn¡¯t want to run.


    I gritted my teeth.


    This was bad.


    Really bad.


    I had to do something.


    Then¡ª


    Something rushed past Bobo.


    Too fast.


    My eyes snapped toward it.


    A skeleton.


    Not just any skeleton.


    One that looked like it crawled out of a nightmare, slipping past him, heading straight for me.


    Shit.


    Panic shot through me.


    It happened too fast; a skeletal figure lunged, jagged bones gleaming in the dark.


    Too close.


    No time to think. I grabbed the first thing I could¡ª a chunk of stone from the broken ground. A big one. My fingers clenched around it, but my grip was off. Too shaky, too desperate.


    I swung anyway.


    Crack¡ª!


    The impact jolted my arm. The skeleton stumbled.


    The stone smashed its skull, shattering half of it.


    But it didn¡¯t fall.


    It just snapped its broken skull around, empty sockets locking onto my face.


    I took a step back.


    But it didn¡¯t stop.


    Its skeletal fingers clawed for my throat. I kicked it back, gasping, nearly losing my balance.


    A second one lunged.


    This was bad.


    Then a third.


    What was going on over there?


    They were getting past Bobo, one after another after another.


    They were coming for me.


    Bobo tried to turn back¡ªhe felt it, he knew¡ªbut it was too late. Too many pinned him down, forced him to keep fighting.


    I clenched my teeth.


    No choice.


    I kept searching for their weaknesses.


    I kept smashing heads.


    But I needed more.


    I activated Adrenaline Flow¡ªon myself.


    A jolt shot through me. My body lurched into overdrive, every muscle tightening, senses sharpening. The world slowed¡ªor maybe I sped up.


    No time to question it.


    I moved.


    Dodged. Countered. Grabbed another stone¡ªslammed it into the nearest skull. I stomped down on a bony leg, sent my knee crashing into another set of ribs.


    They cracked but didn¡¯t stop.


    None of them stopped.


    My adrenaline was high.


    Strength rushed through me, dulling fatigue, though my muscles burned.


    But they could still move.


    No time to stop, no time to complain, no time to give up.


    I tried to back away, gain space¡ªbut they kept coming.


    I needed more.


    I pushed Vital Surge into my body, and Harmonic Link to Bobo.


    I felt Bobo¡¯s position, his movement, the battle raging around him.


    I tried to maintain control. I called him¡ªtried to direct him. But it was too much.


    I needed to think faster.


    I pushed Neural Acceleration into both of us.


    Too much.


    Neurological overload.


    My brain worked too fast, taking in too much¡ªtoo many enemies, too many movements, too many details to track, too many things to manage.


    My mind was racing, but my body couldn¡¯t keep up. I was breaking.


    Skeletons lunged from the sides.


    Bobo tore through them, but they kept coming. One nearly bit me from behind¡ªI barely dodged. Spinning on my heels, I smashed another skull with my stone, but the recoil jarred my entire arm.


    I was fighting.


    I was holding my ground, keeping it together with the thought that I couldn¡¯t stop here.


    I couldn¡¯t die here.


    But¡­


    My stamina plummeted. I was breathing too hard. My arms felt like lead.


    I was barely moving on raw willpower and borrowed energy. But the more I fought, the more I felt it¡ª


    I couldn¡¯t hold out.


    Everything was chaos.


    I needed to recover, fast. Vital Surge¡ªactivate again.


    A wave of relief washed over me. Fatigue ebbed, pain dulled. My body adapted, but then hunger struck.


    Not normal hunger¡ªa gnawing, consuming hunger. Like my body was eating itself from the inside.


    Shit¡­ Only now did I remember Bobo.


    I wasn¡¯t the only one getting tired. I extended Vital Surge to him, too.


    His muscles flared back to life, but the moment I did, I felt it.


    It was too much.


    Bobo was hitting his limit.


    I was hitting mine.


    And the skeletons¡ª


    They didn¡¯t have limits.


    I was managing myself, managing Bobo, managing the fight¡­


    I was¡­


    One second, I was standing¡ª


    The next, a bony fist slammed into my ribs.


    Bobo felt it. The instant I was hit, he reacted. His head snapped toward me. His entire body shifted.


    The hit wasn¡¯t fatal, but it was enough.


    Enough to break my rhythm.


    Enough to leave me open.


    I choked on air, staggered back, felt another grab my arm¡ªpull.


    I twisted free, but it threw me off balance.


    Another rushed in.


    I couldn¡¯t dodge.


    Bobo rushed back, hard, fast, reckless, abandoning his vantage just to reach me.


    Something slammed into my side.


    Pain exploded through my ribs.


    The world blurred.


    I hit the ground, hard.


    Suddenly, everything worsened.


    Suddenly, it wasn¡¯t just like drowning.


    I was drowning.


    My vision swam.


    The sounds of battle twisted into something distant, muffled¡ªlike I was sinking deeper, deeper into the dark.


    I tried to push myself up. My arms shook.


    I looked up¡ª


    Bobo saw me fall.


    And in an instant¡ª


    He lost it.


    Then I saw¡ª


    Nothing.

 Chapter 53: Reality Check

    Pain.


    Not unbearable¡ªjust everywhere.


    Like I wasn¡¯t even a body anymore, just a collection of bruises, stiff joints, and aching muscles. My ribs felt tight, like something inside had shifted the wrong way.


    I tried to breathe.


    Tried to move.


    Tried to think.


    Something was¡­ wrong.


    The air was too thick. The stone beneath me was too cold. My arms felt like they didn¡¯t belong to me.


    Where¡ª?


    ¡°seven minutes.¡±


    The voice cut through the fog in my head, sharp and unimpressed.


    Rhyzar.


    I blinked. My eyes barely opened, vision still swimming, but I saw him¡ªstanding there with his arms crossed, looking at me like I was something he¡¯d found under his boot.


    ¡°Well,¡± he muttered, tilting his head, ¡°I guess I have to lower my expectations.¡±


    His words hit harder than I wanted to admit.


    I pushed myself up onto my elbows, breath coming in ragged gasps. My body hated me, my ribs screaming in protest. I ignored them.


    ¡°What¡­¡± My voice cracked. I swallowed. ¡°What is this place?¡±


    Rhyzar didn¡¯t even blink. ¡°A Broken Tower.¡±


    I frowned, trying to clear the fog from my brain. ¡°A what?¡±


    ¡°A true Tower,¡± he said, voice slow and deliberate. ¡°But broken.¡±


    Not the answer I was expecting.


    I dragged myself further upright, sitting against the cold stone wall. My limbs were weak, my mind still piecing things together. ¡°So you brought me to a Tower?¡±


    The shift was instant.


    Rhyzar¡¯s arms uncrossed. The smirk vanished. His voice dropped, low and sharp.


    ¡°Did you forget your promise?¡±


    I stiffened.


    He took a step forward.


    ¡°Did you forget your father?¡±


    Another step.


    ¡°The Abyssal Tower?¡±


    My jaw clenched.


    ¡°Your father¡¯s curse?¡±


    A weight settled in my chest.


    ¡°Didn¡¯t you promise to free him?¡± His voice was quiet now¡ªcold, cutting. ¡°Didn¡¯t you promise to face what¡¯s coming?¡±


    I swallowed hard.


    He exhaled sharply, shook his head. ¡°Did you think this was a joke?¡±


    The air felt heavier.


    ¡°Games?¡±


    I looked away.


    ¡°Did you think all the time I¡¯ve spent training you was a waste?¡±


    Silence.


    ¡°You can leave,¡± he said, voice eerily calm. ¡°Go home. Play with your little sister. Drink tea, prop your legs up, help your parents in their enclosure. Live a leisurely life.¡±


    My fingers curled into fists.


    ¡°But if you want to walk this path¡­¡± His eyes locked onto mine. ¡°You¡¯d better come correct.¡±


    The words hit harder than any physical blow I had taken.


    ¡°You think I didn¡¯t see your face?¡± Rhyzar said, voice sharpening. ¡°Your attitude? The way you complained, the way you whined, the way everything became a bother?¡±


    I grit my teeth.


    He knew.


    Of course he knew.


    Yesterday, I¡¯d been annoyed. Frustrated. Tired. Every part of me hated the training, wanted to toss Rhyzar off a cliff.


    And now?


    Now I¡¯d been left for dead in a fight I should have survived.


    My stomach twisted.


    I exhaled sharply. ¡°So you did this on purpose.¡±


    Rhyzar didn¡¯t hesitate. ¡°Somebody needed a reality check.¡±


    Anger flared in my chest. I pushed myself up further, ignoring my ribs¡¯ protests. ¡°So you knew I¡¯d fail?¡±


    His lips curled slightly. ¡°Oh, I knew.¡±


    I clenched my fists. ¡°Then why¡ª¡±


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    ¡°But not like this.¡±


    The air went still.


    I froze. I had expected him to be smug, to rub it in, to smirk and say he told me so.


    But he wasn¡¯t smirking.


    He just¡­ looked at me.


    Flat. Disappointed.


    ¡°You weren¡¯t even close,¡± he said. ¡°You panicked. Got sloppy. Let the fight control you instead of controlling it yourself.¡±


    My jaw tightened. ¡°There were hundreds of them¡ª¡±


    ¡°And?¡±


    One word that cut through my excuse like a blade.


    I shut my mouth.


    Hundreds of brittle, low-level bones.


    Hundreds of weaponless, mindless, stupid undead.


    Hundreds, yes. But not hundreds of the elite forces trained by the Raiven family, not hundreds of Abyssal monstrosities you¡¯ll soon be facing.


    ¡°You don¡¯t even realize it, do you?¡± Rhyzar studied me like a puzzle missing half its pieces.


    I swallowed. ¡°Realize what?¡±


    ¡°You had everything you needed to win.¡± His voice was quieter now. ¡°But you didn¡¯t.¡±


    The truth of it settled deep in my bones.


    I knew he was right.


    I hadn¡¯t lost because I was weak.


    I¡¯d lost because it didn¡¯t go the way I wanted. Because I hadn¡¯t treated the fight like life or death. Because I relied too much on my abilities, on my commands, on things going my way.


    And the moment they didn¡¯t¡ª


    I broke.


    Rhyzar¡¯s eyes flickered with something unreadable. ¡°Get up.¡±


    I tensed. ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°Get up.¡±


    Every muscle in my body screamed no. But I grit my teeth and pushed against the stone. My legs wobbled. My ribs throbbed.


    But I stood.


    Rhyzar tilted his head. ¡°Again.¡±


    I barely processed the word. ¡°Again?¡±


    ¡°You think you¡¯re done?¡± His gaze was cold. ¡°That first time was the test. This time, it¡¯s the real challenge¡­¡±


    My stomach twisted. ¡°You¡¯re throwing me back in?¡±


    His smirk returned, razor-sharp. ¡°Oh, no.¡±


    He turned, gesturing toward the cavern¡¯s depths. I followed his gaze¡ªand froze.


    Because standing there¡ªwaiting¡ªwasn¡¯t just another wave of skeletons.


    It was something worse.


    Larger. Stronger. Darker.


    Not just a undead skeleton.


    Something evil.


    Something watching.


    Something that wouldn¡¯t let me walk away this time.


    The air turned thick. My heartbeat pounded in my ears.


    Rhyzar exhaled through his nose, shaking his head. ¡°I¡¯m not throwing you in; you need to get out. This protection spell will hold for fifteen minutes,¡± he said, barely glancing at me. ¡°After that, have fun.¡±


    I clenched my jaw, forcing myself to stand straighter. My body still ached, my ribs still protesting, but I wasn¡¯t about to let him see weakness. Not again.


    He tossed a small package onto the ground between me and Bobo. It landed with a soft thud.


    ¡°Eat,¡± he said. ¡°Recover.¡±


    He turned to leave, but paused. ¡°Four more hours of training to go.¡±


    I stared at him, anger pulsing¡ªmaybe at him, maybe at myself.


    Rhyzar¡¯s voice was quiet. ¡°Now¡­¡± He stepped back. ¡°Let¡¯s see if you break again.¡±


    My breath came slow and steady. I clenched my fists and stepped forward.


    My heart felt ashamed, but my eyes burned with defiance.


    He smirked once more, then vanished.


    I exhaled sharply.


    Bobo let out an exhausted, wheezing noise and collapsed onto the ground next to me. I hadn¡¯t even realized he was there, but I was relieved he was alive.


    We were alive.


    I looked down at the package. Carefully, I unwrapped it, and inside¡ª


    High-grade provisions.


    Two flasks¡ªone deep red, the other a translucent blue. Recovery potions: one for stamina, one for mana.


    Well, I guess he thinks I can heal myself.


    Another flask, faintly glowing¡ªa speed enhancement potion. I¡¯d heard of them but never actually seen one.


    And the food.


    Thick cuts of cooked meat. Not just any meat¡ªprime bronze-rank beast flesh that could boost vitality, reinforce the body, and accelerate healing.


    For Bobo, an assortment of rare, high-nutrient fruits. Each glowed faintly with residual mana¡ªthe kind you¡¯d only find in beasts¡¯ territories.


    This was more than mere recovery food.


    It was a trove of treasures.


    Bobo pounced on the fruit, peeling one apart with practiced speed, tail flicking happily.


    I grabbed a piece of meat, biting in without hesitation. It was tender, rich with energy, each chew sending heat through my veins.


    Every bite of beast meat burned in my stomach, my body processing pure energy. I activated Adaptive Growth for both of us, forcing every cell to absorb as much as it could.


    Bobo devoured his meal, his fur regaining its sheen, his muscles practically humming with strength¡ªgrowing taller.


    I uncorked the stamina potion first.


    The moment it touched my tongue, relief flooded me. Not just refreshment¡ªlike fire in my blood, reigniting every tired muscle.


    I ate more.


    Drank more.


    Then activated Vital Surge.


    My body absorbed the nutrients instantly, repairing itself at an accelerated rate. Every second of rest counted.


    I drank the mana potion next.


    The heaviness, the drained feeling, the fog in my mind, all lifted.


    I ate again.


    Activated Vital Surge again.


    More recovery. More energy.


    I wasn¡¯t just returning to normal¡ª


    I was surpassing it.


    By the time we were done?


    I didn¡¯t just feel better.


    No pain. No stiffness.


    Better than ever.


    I felt sharper.


    Stronger.


    Bobo let out a satisfied huff, stretching. His fur had regained its luster; his muscles no longer trembled. He¡¯d grown at least six inches taller, looking at me with a grin.


    He was ready.


    I checked the spell¡¯s barrier.


    Ten minutes left.


    It still held.


    I still had time.


    Time to think.


    I wasn¡¯t making the same mistake twice.


    No more going in blind.


    My father¡¯s words echoed in my mind:


    ¡°Know your enemy, and the path to victory will reveal itself.¡±


    This wasn¡¯t an army of enemies this time¡ªit was just one.


    I inhaled deeply, steadying myself.


    I clenched my fists, letting out a slow breath.


    I turned to Bobo. ¡°We¡¯re doing this right.¡±


    He met my gaze¡ªno hesitation.


    I gave him the speed potion.


    No fear.


    As he drank it, his muscles refined, his body changed. The mark on his forehead shone with radiant power, and light emanated from his entire body. Bobo rose to a new height. I channeled all my skills to help him, taking some time, but finally¡ªhe stepped into mid-tier common rank.


    Now he stood at least twenty-five inches taller than before.


    But I saw no celebration.


    Only readiness.


    We locked fists.


    Then¡ª


    I activated the Divine Eye of Origin.


    Everything shifted.


    The tunnel was still pitch-black, but the creature beyond the barrier¡ª


    Was no longer just a shadow.


    I saw it.


    And my blood ran cold.


    The air was wrong.


    Thick, heavy, almost like it was pressing down on my lungs.


    I forced myself to breathe evenly, gripping my grimoire tighter. Seven minutes before the barrier dropped.


    Bobo crouched low beside me, golden fur bristling. His tail flicked, tension humming through his muscles.


    He felt it too.


    The name came to me:


    The Dreadbone Sentinel.


    Through the Divine Eye, I focused on it.


    It stood at the far end of the passage, motionless, slightly hunched. Its skull gleamed in the dim light, riddled with cracks. Three twisted horns curled from its crown, their tips dull and fractured.


    Its ribs expanded and contracted¡ªnot as if breathing, but like bones settling into place.


    Elongated arms hung at its sides, clawed fingers twitching in slow, deliberate motion. Whip-like tendrils sprouted from its back, curling and uncurling, testing the air.


    Deep, empty sockets glowed faintly with ember-like light.


    It wasn¡¯t alive. But it was aware.


    Waiting.


    The barrier shimmered around me, keeping it at bay for now.


    But once it fell?


    It would move.


    I had to be ready.


    My grimoire pulsed, feeding me information.


    The Dreadbone Sentinel wasn¡¯t just another undead.


    It was a guardian. A wall.


    It didn¡¯t chase. It didn¡¯t retreat. It stood its ground¡ªa relentless force that wore down anyone foolish enough to challenge it.


    No heart to pierce, no flesh to wound.


    It didn¡¯t care about injuries.


    It wouldn¡¯t stop unless broken apart piece by piece.


    And even then¡ªit wouldn¡¯t stay down.


    I scanned its skills, piecing together a plan:


    Resistant to Slashing & Piercing


    Weak to Blunt Force, Fire, and Holy Magic


    Methodical, slow approach¡ªbut fast reactions


    Uses Bone Eruption to punish aggression


    Harrowing Gaze weakens resolve over time


    Will keep fighting, even with shattered limbs


    I frowned. Fire and holy magic were out. I had neither.


    That left blunt force.


    I exhaled slowly.


    If I fought recklessly, I¡¯d be impaled.


    If I played too defensively, I¡¯d be cornered.


    I had to control the fight¡ªnot Bobo.


    I had to discover a way to guide him. Show him, let him find his own flow.


    I had to dictate the pace¡ªnot the battlefield.

 Chapter 54: Lets Go Crazy

    The instant the barrier collapsed, Bobo was already moving.


    The Dreadbone Sentinel moved, too.


    Not in a rush.


    It advanced like a force of nature, with momentum.


    Its steps were measured, methodical¡ªeach motion deliberate, as if it had already seen this battle play out a thousand times before.


    Bobo was faster.


    Golden blur fast.


    Even if his opponent was at the peak stage of the common rank, Bobo showed no fear.


    Not a second of hesitation, not a fraction of delay.


    Because I had been preparing for this moment.


    Adrenaline Flow: Already active, pushing Bobo¡¯s skill to its peak before the fight even started.


    Neural Acceleration: Bobo¡¯s instincts and calculations firing at terrifying speeds.


    Every nerve, every muscle¡ªoperating at maximum efficiency.


    And the result?


    Speed. Power. Control.


    Bobo closed the distance in a heartbeat.


    His fist rocketed forward¡ª


    But¡ª


    The Sentinel reacted.


    Not by moving.


    Not by dodging.


    By striking.


    Gravestep.


    Its body lurched, covering the short distance in an instant.


    Its main form was slow¡ªbut its attacks? Fast. Precise. Unrelenting.


    Then¡ªthe tendrils.


    They lashed out from its spine, six in total, whipping forward with unnatural speed.


    Designed to ensnare, to control, to restrict¡ªa trap.


    Bobo¡¯s punch halted mid-motion, forced to react.


    His reflexes kicked in.


    His body twisted¡ªa blur of fur and muscle.


    One tendril snapped at his leg¡ªhe kicked it away.


    Another curled toward his back¡ªhe dodged sideways.


    A third came from above¡ªhe slammed his palm into it, deflecting the strike.


    But there were still three more.


    And they weren¡¯t slowing down.


    I saw everything.


    The way the Sentinel compensated for its lack of mobility.


    It didn¡¯t need to be fast.


    It only needed to control the battlefield.


    And if Bobo got caught¡ªif those tendrils wrapped around him¡ªthis fight would turn into a slow, grinding loss.


    No chance. Not happening.


    ¡°Bobo! Stay aggressive! Close the gap!¡±


    Bobo heard me¡ª


    And moved.


    Instead of retreating, he pushed forward.


    Instead of dodging wide, he cut inside the Sentinel¡¯s range.


    Instead of escaping, he attacked.


    Fast. Direct. Relentless.


    And just like that¡ª


    The real battle began.


    Bobo stayed close.


    The Dreadbone Sentinel fought best at mid-range, where its spinal tendrils could curve, snare, and strike with full force. Bobo knew this.


    I knew this.


    So Bobo didn¡¯t give it that space. He smothered it.


    He struck first¡ªhis fist rocket-punching into the undead¡¯s hip bone.


    BOOM.


    Bone cracked. A visible dent formed. Not just surface damage¡ªstructural damage.


    The Sentinel shifted, but it didn¡¯t retreat.


    It simply adjusted.


    It was learning.


    But Bobo¡ª


    Bobo was faster. He stayed close, and he was relentless.


    A clawed hand lashed out¡ªBobo ducked.


    A bony knee jerked upward¡ªBobo twisted aside.


    A tendril snapped down from above¡ªBobo¡¯s tail flicked, redirecting its arc by a hair.


    Every second. Every inch.


    They were dancing to a deathly rhythm.


    The Sentinel had more weapons. Its fingers ended in razor-like claws capable of raking through stone. Its legs were dense, reinforced by hardened bone¡ªevery stomp enough to shatter rock.


    But Bobo had one advantage:


    Speed.


    He saw each blow coming and moved before it landed.


    He couldn¡¯t dodge everything, but he wasn¡¯t worried¡ªhe knew he had me watching his back.


    I kept my distance, scanning the Sentinel¡¯s frame with the Abyssal Eye of Ruin.


    Bobo was punching, but the Sentinel wasn¡¯t breaking fast enough.


    I saw the flaws, the weak points, the imperfections.


    ¡°Bobo!¡± I shouted, my voice cutting through the battle. ¡°Target the left knee¡ªleft side! The outside!¡±


    He didn¡¯t hesitate.


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    He weaved around a claw strike and slammed his foot into the Sentinel¡¯s left knee.


    CRACK.


    A spiderweb fracture spread through the bone. The Sentinel faltered, balance shifting¡ªbut it wasn¡¯t down yet.


    I adjusted. ¡°Ribcage¡ªupper right! If you can¡¯t, go for the clavicle!¡±


    Bobo responded instantly.


    A sharp elbow strike to the upper ribs, sending fractures all across the skeletal frame.


    But the Sentinel countered:


    A Gravestep burst¡ªsudden, fast, unpredictable.


    Bobo had less than a second. He twisted, barely avoiding a direct hit.


    Not completely, though.


    Claws raked across his shoulder¡ªshallow, but still a hit.


    Bobo didn¡¯t flinch. His tail flicked in frustration, but he didn¡¯t let it slow him down. He kept the Sentinel¡¯s damaged knee in his sights.


    This was the moment.


    ¡°Again! Left knee¡ªharder!¡±


    Bobo¡¯s fist blurred.


    BOOM.


    The Sentinel buckled. The damaged leg caved inward, the entire frame tilting, collapsing onto one knee.


    I was already moving, gripping my stone weapon tight.


    The Sentinel¡¯s skull was open.


    Exposed.


    Exactly where I wanted it.


    Time to strike while it¡¯s down.


    But it wasn¡¯t finished.


    A spinal tendril lashed out.


    I saw it. Felt it.


    No time to dodge.


    The tendril slammed into my ribs, knocking the wind from me. Pain flared, vision blurring for half a second.


    But I clenched my teeth¡ªkept moving.


    One step, slow but determined.


    Then¡ª


    BOOM.


    I swung my weapon down.


    It crashed into the Sentinel¡¯s skull, splitting the bone with a thunderous crack.


    The impact rattled through my arms, the force traveling through its fractured frame.


    The Sentinel jerked. Twitched.


    Then¡ªsilence.


    Bobo landed beside me, breathing hard, eyes locked on the fallen skeleton.


    We didn¡¯t lower our guard.


    Not yet.


    Not until we were sure it wasn¡¯t getting back up.


    I knew it wasn¡¯t done.


    A sudden shift.


    The broken frame jerked. Twitched.


    Then¡ªit exploded into action.


    Its tendrils curled, bones scraping against stone. The remaining arm¡ªthe one Bobo hadn¡¯t broken¡ªmoved. Fast.


    The Sentinel feigned collapse. A trick.


    I¡¯d already taken a few steps back; I wouldn¡¯t fall for it.


    Bobo moved first¡ªhis instincts screaming. His fist smashed into one of its arms, breaking it, then hammered the broken knee again, forcing the undead back down.


    But the Sentinel had waited for that.


    A sudden impact.


    Not from tendrils, but from the ground.


    Bone Eruption.


    Jagged spikes exploded upward in a sharp arc, forcing Bobo to retreat.


    And in that moment¡ªit struck.


    Using Gravestep, not to attack Bobo but me, the one who¡¯d broken its skull.


    The remaining tendril snapped out, wrapping around my arm.


    Tight. Cold. Hungry.


    I felt it immediately.


    But I rushed to keep distance.


    I wasn¡¯t Bobo; I couldn¡¯t just charge in and hope for the best.


    A pull.


    Not physical¡ªsomething deeper.


    Like it was drawing from me.


    My muscles tensed. No.


    I knew this skill too.


    Life Siphon.


    Not today, buddy. You want my life force? Keep dreaming.


    My Abyssal Eye flared.


    The tendril shuddered. The pull¡ªstopped.


    It wasn¡¯t stealing anymore.


    It was just holding me.


    And that was a mistake.


    I tightened my grip on my weapon.


    ¡°Bobo.¡± My voice was low.


    Bobo¡¯s golden eyes locked onto me.


    ¡°Break it.¡±


    Bobo¡¯s arm whipped forward.


    BOOM.


    His fist shattered the tendril, freeing me.


    I stumbled back.


    The Sentinel lurched, its damaged frame fighting to stay upright.


    But we weren¡¯t giving it that chance.


    I activated Vital Surge.


    My ribs knitted together. My breathing steadied.


    I surged forward.


    Bobo smashed its shoulder. I swung for the other joint.


    Bone cracked.


    The Sentinel staggered.


    Bobo¡¯s next hit? The ribcage.


    My next hit? The spine.


    The fight turned messy. Brutal.


    I took the hits, took the pain, and kept using Vital Surge. I knew I wasn¡¯t fast enough to dodge them all. I just had to endure.


    Piece by piece. Bit by bit.


    We broke it.


    Until nothing was left.


    Until it was done.


    The Sentinel was gone.


    Its bones lay in shattered heaps across the cavern, unmoving, broken beyond repair.  There was no revival for this one.


    Just stillness.


    I exhaled slowly, feeling the last traces of battle fade. My grip loosened on my makeshift weapon, my body still thrumming with energy from Vital Surge.


    Bobo stood beside me, panting, golden fur streaked with dust and bone fragments, tail twitching¡ªrestless. But there was no more enemy. No more fight.


    It was over.


    Then¡ªsomething shifted.


    A whisper in the air. A faint, unnatural hum.


    I felt it before I saw it.


    The remains of the Sentinel began to glow.


    A low, pulsing light flickered through the bones, like dying embers reigniting one final time. Not a resurgence¡ªa reaction.


    I narrowed my eyes. What is this?


    Instinct took over.


    I reached out, pressing a hand against the largest piece of its remains. Then¡ª


    A pulse of ¡ªraw, neutral energy.


    Mana.


    It flowed through me, through the cavern, through the shattered bones¡ªthen converged.


    The glow intensified.


    The scattered bones trembled.


    Then, in the center of the remains¡ª


    Something formed.


    Not from the bones themselves, but from the mana condensing within them.


    A manifestation. A reward.


    Bobo chattered in surprise, stepping back as the light coalesced¡ªcompressing until it solidified.


    A single, floating object hovered in the air above the bones.


    I narrowed my eyes, summoning my Divine Eye of Origin.


    The golden pupil shrank, refocused.


    The world around me faded.


    All I saw¡ª


    Was this.


    And then details rushed in.


    I blinked.


    My breath caught.


    ¡°¡­What is this?¡±


    1. Cracked Sentinel Core (High-Grade Undead Evolution Catalyst)


    A fractured yet potent core once embedded in the Dreadbone Sentinel¡¯s structure.


    Function: Serves as an evolution catalyst for skeletal or armored undead beasts.


    Effect: Grants a reinforced skeletal structure, increasing bone density, durability, and resistance to blunt and slashing damage.


    Drawback: Due to its broken nature, it requires additional necrotic energy or binding materials to fully activate.


    Potential Use: Could be infused into an undead summon to enhance its defensive capabilities, or used to craft skeletal armor plating for undead creatures.


    2. Hollowbone Shard (High-Grade Bone-Infused Crafting Material)


    A remnant of the Sentinel¡¯s reinforced exoskeleton.


    Function: Material used to forge weapons, armor, or skeletal reinforcements.


    Effect: Enhances structural integrity of undead creatures, making their bones harder than steel while remaining lightweight.


    Bonus Effect: If refined properly, can grant an undead summon adaptive reinforcement¡ªbones that become harder after sustaining damage.


    Potential Use: Could be used to forge undead-bound weapons, reinforce skeletal summons, or craft protective skeletal armor.


    3. Withered Ossuary Essence (High-Grade Decay-Linked Growth Resource)


    A lingering necrotic energy fragment harvested from the Sentinel¡¯s core marrow.


    Function: Used to enhance or accelerate the growth of undead creatures by improving their connection to necrotic energy.


    Effect: Boosts an undead summon¡¯s lifespan, regenerative abilities, and resistance to exorcism-based magic.


    Bonus Effect: Grants an undead creature Hollow Fortitude, reducing the impact of dismemberment (e.g., an arm or leg still functions after being severed).


    Potential Use: Can be directly absorbed by an undead summon for enhancement or infused into a ritual to increase undead resilience.


    4. Broken Necrotic Vein (High-Grade Undead Energy Conduit)


    A damaged but functional channel of necrotic mana that once circulated through the Sentinel¡¯s bones.


    Function: Enhances mana flow within undead creatures, improving energy efficiency and spellcasting for necromantic summons.


    Effect: Boosts mana efficiency, allowing undead summons to sustain abilities longer.


    Bonus Effect: When properly refined, can grant an undead summon a Necrotic Pulse, enabling it to release a wave of necrotic energy upon taking damage.


    Potential Use: Can be integrated into an undead creature to strengthen mana circulation or used to create necrotic-based equipment that stores and releases undead energy.


    ---


    I stared at the resources in front of me, my mind racing.


    Cracked Sentinel Core.


    Hollowbone Shard.


    Withered Ossuary Essence.


    Broken Necrotic Vein.


    All high-grade materials, all meant for undead. None of them should be useful to me.


    And yet¡­


    I hovered my hand over the Cracked Sentinel Core, watching faint pulses of energy flicker across its fractured surface. Weak, unstable¡ªunfinished.


    A normal summoner or beast master would sell it.


    A necromancer might refine it.


    But me?


    My mind didn¡¯t work like theirs.


    ¡°What if I don¡¯t need to be a necromancer to use this?¡±


    My Divine Eye of Origin flared to life, feeding me possibilities. Failed attempts from others. The typical logic of how these materials were supposed to function.


    None of it mattered.


    Because no one like me had tried this before.


    ¡°If undead can absorb these materials, why can¡¯t I force them into something else?¡±


    My heart pounded as the idea took shape.


    ¡°What if I can break the limits?¡±


    My grimoire pulsed in response, almost¡­ curious.


    I grabbed the Cracked Sentinel Core, rolling it in my palm. It felt cold, faintly heavy, struggling to stay intact.


    But I had something the undead didn¡¯t.


    Adaptive Growth Factor.


    It wasn¡¯t just for living things¡ªit was for development. It didn¡¯t care whether something was alive or dead. It only cared if it could be improved.


    ¡°What if I can reforge it?¡±


    What if I didn¡¯t have to be an undead summoner?


    What if I forced this core to adapt?


    A slow grin crept across my face.


    ¡°Bobo.¡±


    The golden ape looked up, still catching his breath. He tilted his head, recognizing that familiar look in my eyes.


    I had an idea.


    A crazy one.


    A dangerous one.


    The best kind.


    I tightened my grip on the core, feeling its fragile energy tremble in my hand.


    ¡°Let¡¯s see what happens when you refuse to play by the rules.¡±


    And with that¡ª


    I poured my mana into the broken undead core.


    Then I swallowed.