Tamer's Path

The morning light filtered through the dense canopy, casting golden streaks on the forest floor. My body still ached from last night's training, but the chill of dawn brought a refreshing clarity.

"Voltis," I called softly, nudging him awake. His small body sparked faintly as he stretched and yawned. "Mind giving me some water? I need to freshen up."

He obliged, forming a steady stream of water in midair. I stood under it, letting the cool liquid wash away the dust and grime. The itchiness vanished, replaced by a sense of renewal.

"Thanks, little guy," I said, shaking off the excess water and feeling ready for the day ahead.

Once I was cleaned up, we decided it was time to find breakfast. "I don't want fish this time," I said, glancing at Voltis. "You go ahead and find something by the river. Asura and I will look for something… more interesting."

Voltis nodded, bounding off toward the water. Meanwhile, I climbed to the top of the tree with Asura's help. The view from up here was breathtaking—the sky stretched out endlessly, painted in hues of orange and pink, and the forest below teemed with life.

My stomach growled, reminding me of the task at hand.

From our vantage point, I noticed the Horned Skybreaker Eagles gliding majestically through the sky. These creatures were massive—10 meters tall with two sharp horns crowning their heads. Their bronze rank was a clear warning sign, and I knew better than to pick a fight with something that could turn me into its breakfast instead.

"We're not ready for that," I muttered to Asura, who growled softly in agreement.

Our eyes scanned for easier prey, eventually landing on a group of vibrant birds perched not far away. These Aurora Shrikes were about a meter tall, their feathers shimmering in shades of pink, green, red, and black. They reminded me of the parrots back home, though much larger and far more exotic.

They were beautiful—and they looked delicious.

I whispered a plan to Asura. He nodded, his golden-red armor glinting in the morning light. In one swift motion, Asura hurled me toward the flock of Aurora Shrikes.

The sudden movement startled them, and they took off in a flurry of color, squawking loudly. All but one. I summoned a barrier cage mid-air, trapping a lone bird within its shimmering walls.

Asura leapt after me, creating a flaming barrier above to ward off the rest of the flock. The fiery display worked perfectly, scattering the birds in all directions. I landed on another tree, the impact softened by my enhanced physical attributes.

The trapped shrike flailed inside the cage, but I ended it swiftly with a clean strike to its neck. Its body went limp, and I felt a twinge of guilt before my stomach growled again, reminding me why I was doing this.

"Asura, clean off the feathers," I instructed. He got to work, his flames carefully burning away the vibrant plumage without damaging the meat.

With the bird cleaned, we carried it down to the river where Voltis was feasting on a small fish. He looked up, tilting his head curiously at our prize.

"Can you clean this for us?" I asked, holding up the bird. Voltis chirped in response, summoning a precise stream of water to rinse off any remaining dirt or blood.

Once it was ready, we set up a makeshift spit near the riverbank. Asura's flames acted as a perfect heat source, roasting the meat to a golden brown. The smell was mouthwatering, and my hunger only grew stronger as we waited.

When the meat was finally cooked, we tore into it without hesitation. The Aurora Shrike tasted rich and slightly sweet, with a texture similar to chicken but more tender.

"This is definitely worth the effort," I said between bites, earning a contented hum from Asura and a satisfied chirp from Voltis.

With breakfast done, we cleaned up and prepared to move out. The thought of finally reaching the human town filled me with a mix of excitement and apprehension. It would be the first time I'd see civilization in this strange world, and I wasn't sure what to expect.

"Let's get moving," I said, hoisting my pack. Asura took the lead, his fiery form cutting a striking figure against the forest backdrop. Voltis was sent to the taming space to act as surprise attack when needed.

The forest was alive with the sounds of morning, but my mind was focused on the path ahead. Each step brought us closer to the unknown.

I decided it was best to conserve energy, so I fused with Asura, feeling his presence wrap around me like a second skin. Voltis was already resting in the taming space, absorbing energy to grow stronger. Traveling as a visible human had drawn too much attention in this dangerous place, and the appearance of a fire-elemental knight seemed to deter potential threats. I hoped the combination of stealth and misdirection would keep unnecessary battles to a minimum.

Our strength wasn't enough yet. Despite my progress, we were only at Advanced Iron rank, with Voltis still lagging behind at Intermediate. Bronze rank monsters remained out of our reach. My current abilities couldn't close the gap between ranks without risking our lives. To ascend to Bronze, I estimated we'd need to defeat nearly ninety Advanced Iron rank monsters.

It wasn't just about defeating them—it was about extracting the tiny, pure fragments of energy left behind. Most of a creature's energy was bound to its body and soul structure. Without advanced skills, we could only claim the cleanest remnants, which meant progress was slow. But I was determined. Reaching Bronze rank before leaving the forest would provide a significant advantage, not to mention the evolution it would trigger in my partners, advancing them from children to teenagers in form and strength.

After an hour of wandering, we stumbled upon a curious sight. By the edge of the river stood a small plant creature, no taller than a five-year-old human child. It had large, expressive eyes and a vibrant flower on its head, hues of violet and pink blending beautifully.

I froze, observing it from a distance. A quick scan with my taming abilities revealed its potential. This wasn't an ordinary plant-type monster. It had a unique path of evolution: a humanoid tree adorned with flowers, a delicate flower fairy, or a green-skinned being with vines for hair. Any of these forms would make it a powerful ally, but there was something more.

The data suggested a rare and tragic final form—a creature so enchanting it could captivate the universe itself, living only for a day before fading away. It would bloom like a fleeting dream, singing and dancing in a moment of unrivaled beauty, its death as inevitable as its birth.

I shook off the thought. Such evolution was far off and uncertain. What mattered now were its abilities: poison and healing. The latter alone was reason enough to recruit it, especially in this dangerous forest. But as I watched, I realized something unusual—the plant girl was alone.

These creatures typically lived in groups. A solitary one could mean trouble or tragedy. My thoughts were interrupted when the creature noticed me. Its big eyes widened in fear, and it turned to flee.

"Oh no, you don't." I jumped forward, extending Asura's wax arm, which stretched like a lasso to catch her mid-sprint. The girl squealed in fright as the arm wrapped around her gently but firmly. I pulled her toward me and landed softly on the other side of the river.

She wriggled in my grasp, clearly terrified. "Why are you alone, little one?" I asked, switching to the Plant Empire language. My universal communication skill made it easy to speak with her.

Her big eyes welled with tears, and her tiny voice quivered. "P-please… don't burn me."

Her words hit me like a punch to the gut. The fear in her voice was palpable. I quickly released her, letting her stand freely. "I'm not going to burn you," I said, shifting into my human form. I crouched to her level and smiled softly. "I'm here to help. I want to make a contract with you. If you agree, I'll protect you, make you strong, and together we'll grow."

She tilted her head, clearly confused. "Why would you want me? Aren't I too weak?"

I frowned. "Everyone has their strengths, little one. You have yours. I want to learn from you, especially your healing abilities."

She hesitated, clutching her tiny hands together. Then her expression shifted, and her voice took on a harder edge. "I'll agree… if you promise to help me get revenge. The wasps… they killed my tribe. My family, my friends… all gone."

Her words sent a chill down my spine. The wasps she referred to must be the Venom Hornets, monstrous insects as large as humans. They had two long stingers for arms and a deadly third stinger at the base of their abdomen. Venomous and incredibly fast, they were a nightmare to face, especially since their hive likely held over a hundred of them.

I sighed, looking at her. "Listen, little one, I'm not strong enough to take on a hive right now. We're still at Iron rank, and fighting them now would be suicide. But I promise you this: when we reach Silver rank, I'll help you destroy every last one of them. It won't take more than a month at my current pace."

She studied me, her small hands clutching the petals on her head. Finally, she nodded. "Okay. But if you break your promise, I'll run away."

"I never break my promises," I said firmly. With those words, I reached out my hand. "Shall we?"

She hesitated for only a moment before placing her tiny hand in mine. The contract formed instantly, a soft glow enveloping her as she became my third partner.

The moment she entered my taming space, I felt the strain on my energy reserves. She was only at Beginner Iron rank, but the energy from the space would help her grow quickly. Her presence didn't make me stronger immediately, but I knew she would be invaluable in the future.

My party was growing stronger, but there was still a long road ahead. For now, I had a new ally—a small, fragile plant girl with immense potential.

Her name came to me as I walked forward towards my goal: Lilia, for the beauty and fragility of her kind. And one day, if she chose that tragic final evolution, she would become Elyssia, the Blooming Dream, a being of unparalleled beauty destined to leave the world longing for her return.

But for now, she was just Lilia, and I had a promise to keep.