Ethan stared at his stats in astonishment. He had grown stronger in such a short time. The Thersatil herb and the meat of the Sabretooth Jack rabbit had revitalized him, and now he was beginning to feel the flow of mänə. The fatigue that once weighed him down had vanished, replaced by a surge of energy. In fact, he felt ready for another round of battle—but Zark had other plans.
He needed to focus on cultivating mänə and nurturing his bond with his Spirit Beast. Although he hadn't summoned Angitia in his previous fights, the connection they shared was profound; as a mage and cultivator, his Spirit Beast was an integral part of his strength.
- Race: Psyche-Eyed Serpent
- Rank: Bronze (Nearly Peak)
- Affinity Energy: 50
Ethan summoned Angitia, checking her stats with pride. Despite not having trained her directly, she had grown a few inches longer and wider. Now about 30 inches long and 7 inches wide, her black eyes shone brightly, and the eye rune on her forehead glowed with newfound intensity.
"From now on, your name is Angitia," Ethan declared confidently.
Spirit Beast Name: Angitia.
Angitia hissed in delight, coiling around Ethan's neck. Although her larger size should have posed a challenge, she effortlessly shrank to fit comfortably. As she settled in, Ethan felt the connection between them deepen. He could sense her intentions as she began to cultivate alongside him, establishing a unique "cultivation network"—a rarity among Beast Awakeners.
Embracing the invitation, Ethan focused on the network forming between them. A blue eye rune appeared on his forehead, glowing in sync with Angitia's.
He could now feel mänə flowing through him with ease. All that remained was to absorb, manipulate, and cultivate it. Surprisingly, he didn't need a formal cultivation technique; the bond with his Spirit Beast was a potent method in itself.
Ethan grinned at the thought. What could be better than cultivating alongside your Spirit Beast? The idea thrilled him; he could grow in tandem with Angitia, sharing skills and achieving perfect synchronization.
In a serene cave, master and beast entered a meditative state, eyes closed in concentration. The blue runes on their foreheads pulsed with light as a blue aura flowed around them, twirling in the air. Small streams of this light entered their bodies through their noses, mouths, and pores.
The flow of mänə cleansed Ethan's system, sweeping through his bloodstream and gathering in his dantian, forming a small, colorless sphere surrounded by a radiant blue glow. He had officially begun cultivating with an innate technique.
Hidden Quest Completed!
Cultivate With Spirit Beast.
Reward: Half Completion Of Quest, Create Martial Arts.
Penalty: Seal Dantian And Pores For 1 Year.
"Fuck! Is it really worth it?!" Ethan exclaimed.
*Host Is Advised Not To Question System's Decisions. *
"Isn't this too outrageous?" he protested.
"It's for your own good, kid. Don't question the system," Zark replied sternly, sounding almost wary of the system himself.
Ethan felt an increase in his strength; he was certain his stats had risen. He also sensed a newfound ease in using Telekinesis.
"Your willpower has increased significantly," Zark explained. "Your cultivation technique is centered on the synergy between you and Angitia, particularly focusing on willpower. This technique utilizes mänə to train your mind, allowing you to accumulate willpower, which in turn generates telekinetic energy."
"Isn't that overpowered? All I need is good imagination, and boom—Telekinesis!" Ethan exclaimed.
"It's more complex than that. You'll understand as you grow stronger, but yes, it is quite powerful," Zark admitted.
"Damn! I'm really lucky to have this affinity, but…"
"Don't dwell on it. Focus on growing stronger. You have resources at your disposal. You can even stay here for years, but... forget it; you won't grasp it all yet. Just remember to focus on being a partner to Angitia, not her master. Do what benefits you both, and most importantly, be yourself. Use your time wisely here; the mänə in this realm is denser than in the outside world. You need to grow quickly to face Leon; he has likely made significant progress by now," Zark cautioned.
Ethan felt a shiver at the gravity in Zark's tone. He had a lot to learn, and time was of the essence.
After what felt like half a day of cultivating, he finally stood up, feeling the cramps in his muscles. As he exited the cave, the system prompted a new quest: survive until his time in the Beast Plane ended. With his Aura Control and Hammer Arts locked, he'd have to rely on martial arts, Angitia, and Telekinesis for now.
With renewed determination, Angitia hissed beside him, as they strolled through the forest in search of prey.