Astralux didn't resist as Nox began the taming ritual. During the process, they seemed to connect on a deeper level, sensing each other's true feelings and intentions. Nox felt that Astralux was a shy, curious, and playful orphan. He also learned the tragic story of how her water-type parents had been killed and devoured by sharks right before her eyes.
Since that day, she'd been traumatized and constantly fleeing from sharks, who were determined to hunt her down as well.
This news explained Astralux's relatively low tier despite her impressive skills—she was still just a baby. However, her abilities made up for the low level, showing potential far beyond what Nox had first expected.
Nox telepathically promised to take care of her, assuring the little elemental beast that she would be safe. Astralux, who had glimpsed into Nox's mind during the ritual, knew his promise was genuine. She had seen how he treated his other pets with care and love, and they, in turn, were deeply loyal to him.
If only one of them had such devotion, she might have been skeptical, but with all three feeling the same way, Astralux readily accepted Nox as her master. A glowing mark of infinity appeared briefly on her body before dissipating, sealing their bond.
As the taming process concluded, a blue gate opened, and Fluffington and Thirteen emerged, their eyes filled with curiosity as they gazed at Astralux. She stared back, feeling the faint connection she now shared with them, as well as with two other beasts who were not here. The bond was weak for now, but it was there.
"Asta, meet Thirteen and Fluffington," Nox said, a smile playing on his lips. "They'll be your senior siblings from now on."
[Panda!] Thirteen exclaimed, puffing his chest and flexing his muscles as he proudly pointed at himself. [Panda strong! Panda protect you!]
Astralux turned a soft shade of pink in response to Thirteen's introduction. Her tentacles stretched out and gently patted the panda's head. She was genuinely touched by the sincerity in Thirteen's voice.
Next, Fluffington stepped forward with a dramatic flair. "And I am the gre—" he began, but stopped when he saw Nox's stern gaze, and he recalled the promise he'd made not to be arrogant again. Fluffington cleared his throat and continued, this time more humbly. [I am Fluffington, your elder brother, and like Panda said, we'll protect you!]
Astralux felt a swell of emotion as she looked at her new family. After losing her parents, these creatures were the first to ever promise her safety. And from the deep bond she shared with them, she knew their words were genuine.
Now, it was her turn to introduce herself.
While Nox was busy in the unknown dimension, Ren, the Alpha student and leader of the Vermilion Kingdom group, had just received a visitor. It was a tall, athletic student with green hair and vibrant eyes, a toothpick in his mouth. He wore a jacket and black pants. Merely standing there, the student exuded a confident aura. There was no arrogance; it was just pure confidence.
'So, they think I'm incompetent and decided to send him,' Ren thought bitterly, massaging his temples. He shot a glance at the newcomer, feeling a mix of frustration and unease. 'Sending a special class student to babysit me?'
Because he had taken too long to complete the mission of getting the Elemental Crystal, the academy had sent a special class student over.
Special class students were the future prodigies of the Vermilion Kingdom. All of them were freaking monsters in their own right. They were handpicked by the academy for their extraordinary talents and potential.
Brandon Chai's arrival sent a ripple of excitement through the Vermilion Kingdom group. As a special class student, he possessed exceptional abilities and knowledge that could elevate the group's performance. The group was elated, except for Ren, as he felt the special class student would take all the glory of this mission.
Adding to Ren's frustration was a mysterious letter he'd received, detailing the exact location of the elemental beast. Just as he thought he had gained the upper hand in the mission, Brandon had appeared to claim the spotlight.
'I couldn't have taken down that beast on my own anyway,' Ren admitted to himself, begrudgingly handing the letter to Brandon. He explained everything, from the beast's power to the letter's suspicious origin.
However, before they left, Brandon turned to Ren. "Also, what happened to the student Wendy Chai?"
Ren stammered, his voice trembling at first. "Ah—s-she passed away… The elemental beast killed her." His tone steadied, laced with disdain as he continued, "But she was just a commoner. Why ask? Even if she survived, I'm sure the academy would've disposed of her another way."
"Is that so?" Brandon's eyes flashed for a brief moment before his expression returned to its usual calm.
After that short exchange, the two left for the Iceborn Forest. According to the writer, the Elemental beast dwelled inside a frozen cavern and there was even a map.
Ren didn't know how this person had gotten information about the whereabouts of the Elemental Beast, but he decided to check it out. With Brandon beside him, at the slight chance of this being a trap by the people who got rid of Wendy, he was confident that they could get out of any situation.
Soon, Brandon and Ren paused in front of the ice cavern; they stared into the opening, and the fierce bestial aura washed over them. Having witnessed the power of the Elemental beast once, Ren shivered, and his eyes flashed with uncertainty. He threw a glance at Brandon.
As expected, the senior student seemed unaffected by the aura, at least on the outside. Ren stared at Brandon in admiration. What he didn't know was that Brandon felt a bit uneasy too; that aura clearly belonged to a creature that was either at the King Tier or above.
One thing was clear though—the mysterious person who had informed them was indeed correct because the aura was as fierce and savage as the one Ren remembered from that night. They were in the right place.
Brandon's gaze met Ren's, and he nodded. "Let's head inside," he said in a voice dripping with confidence; even his stride was measured, as if he wasn't walking into a lion's den, but his home.
"Are all special class students ?" Ren wondered aloud as he hurriedly followed behind Brandon.
The ice cavern was filled with protruding spikes, and the cold was intense and biting. But the duo gritted through, and soon they appeared in an open chamber. However, the formidable Elemental beast was absent.
"Heavens!" Ren's eyes shone with disbelief when he saw the things in this portion of the frozen cave. His breath quickened, and his hands trembled.
"T-this!" Brandon's eyelids twitched. He usually kept his cool in almost every situation; however, this was just too huge... there was no way he could keep his composure after seeing the countless treasures littered inside this cavern, with frozen spikes pointing down as if they would fall at any moment.
Inside the room, there were beast cores embedded on the walls, while some lay scattered throughout the ground, along with various magic items. The multiple treasures emitting multicolored lights made the place appear beautiful.
But both Ren and Brandon's gazes were drawn to something else: an elevated platform in the center of the chamber, upon which two crystals rested. One emitted a radiant blue light, while the other radiated a shadowy, mysterious aura.
The two made their way to the elevated platform and took a better look at the crystals that they felt were the most important and valuable treasures inside this chamber.
"Elemental Crystals!" The two exclaimed at the same time, their hearts almost jumping out of their chests.