Hate me, Miss Witch!

[Soul Pact Status: 1st Soul Pact (Master-Servant Contract: Shiayar Egutt)]

[Combat Level: 70 (7th Order)]

[Species Rank: Mythical Rank (7th Order)]

[Pet Beast skill: Amaterasu (Legendary Skill), Moon Reading (Legendary Skill)...]

The Mythical Rank, equivalent to the Legendary rank. This was the rank the little white ferret had reached after its latest breakthrough.

In the Western Continent, particularly within the Lost Realm, Mythical Rank Lost Kingdom Beast Kings were not uncommon; each one ruled over a Lost Kingdom. However, a Mythical Rank Pet Beast that had signed a Soul Pact with a Beastmaster was extremely rare, far rarer than Legendary Beastmasters. After all, humans and Pet Beasts have different lifespans. Even Legendary Beastmasters typically live for several hundred years at most. But for many high-Species-Rank Pet Beasts, a few hundred years of age merely marked the end of their adolescence and the beginning of their growth period. As for those Sovereign Rank and Emperor Rank Pet Beasts that had fully matured, most had become Beast Kings, already possessing their own pride and dignity. They would never willingly lower their heads to sign a Soul Pact with a human Beastmaster. Furthermore, for reasons such as Soul Pact compatibility, mutual understanding, and loyalty, human Beastmasters also preferred to choose Pet Beasts still in their eggs or juvenile phase for forming contracts. This led to the majority of Legendary Beastmasters having contracted Pet Beasts that were mostly at the peak of the 6th Order.

The path of the Legendary, the threshold of the Mythical—whether for humans or Pet Beasts—was like a chasm, an insurmountable barrier that stopped countless geniuses and former legendary seeds in their tracks, unable to advance further. Even for the pureblood giant dragons that had long since vanished, existing only in the stories of wandering poets, crossing this step was no easy task. And though Silver had spent most of the past ten years in slumber, by relying on the Soul Pact feedback from Shiayar and the opportunity of devouring the black flames this time, it still managed to take that most difficult step.

The mark of a Legendary Beastmaster is the condensation of a spiritual ocean. And the mark of a Mythical Rank Pet Beast is undergoing a fundamental evolution of life essence. They transcend their original species, with every cell in their physical bodies undergoing a transformation. For this reason, once any Pet Beast breaks through to the Mythical Rank, it can be considered a completely new species—the so-called "Legendary Species." The potential limitations imposed by previous Species Ranks dissipate, placing them all at the same starting line anew.

"I've heard from my teacher and Silvia that Mythical Rank Pet Beasts undergo a transformation of their life form, and many change their physical appearance drastically. But Silver, you seem to have hardly changed at all," Shiayar said, holding the little white ferret, his curiosity piqued.

Aside from Silver's fur becoming smoother and whiter, and its ruby-like eyes deepening a bit, there were no other changes in its appearance. It remained the adorable creature beloved by females aged six to six thousand, perfectly paired with his own "Ravishing Young Beauty EX" passive skill—a living epitome of a charismatic heartthrob. This was far from the transformation he knew was associated with Legendary Species evolution. Logically, even the most common Skeleton Soldier, upon breaking through to Mythical Rank, would naturally evolve into a formidable existence like a Skeleton Emperor or King of the Undead.

"SQUEAK, SQUEAKING. (Master, I feel that maintaining this appearance is more deceptive, making it easier to catch opponents off guard.)"

"SQUEAK, SQUEAK, SQUEAK. (If I looked imposing, people would be on their guard at a glance, which would render my Illusion Technique and sneak attacks useless.)"

So that's how it is. Shiayar nodded in satisfaction. "Makes sense. Worthy of being my 1st Soul Pact Pet Beast, truly inheriting my craftiness."

Indeed, Shiayar had always prided himself as a strategist who settled matters by planning before acting, one who was In Control of the overall situation. As for those times when he had to step into the fray, operating the Mecha Black Knight and rolling up his sleeves for a fight— Ever heard of "bluster"?

Shiayar stroked the little white ferret in his arms while gazing at the azure-blue light screen panel, sinking once more into deep contemplation.

An unnamed new Legendary Species... The snowy plains ferret was only Silver's initial species name. And breaking through to the Mythical Rank was tantamount to undergoing evolution, becoming a brand new, unique Legendary Species throughout the Western Continent. The previous name of "snowy plains ferret" naturally no longer suited Silver's current rank. In other words—it was time for his favorite part: naming.

...

Silver blinked its ruby-like eyes obediently in Shiayar's embrace. The reason it gave Shiayar for not changing its physical form was only part of the truth; it did not reveal everything. The main reason Silver was reluctant to change its form and evolve into something more powerful like a Nine-Tailed Demonic Fox, or a majestic and handsome Silver Moon Wolf King—was that those evolved forms, no matter how dashing, simply couldn't serve as a pillow! Since it specialized in Illusion Techniques and didn't rely on physical combat, not having sharp fangs or claws was fine. Rather than those meaningless, flashy, and exaggerated designs, Silver preferred to continue lying comfortably in Shiayar's embrace.

The previously dominant white cat was now conclusively determined by the Holy Chalice to be one of Silvia's alts. Furthermore, the Gray-Silver Witch herself was presumably too embarrassed to openly use an alt for affection. This meant the little white ferret had reclaimed its position as a cuddle pillow.