As the exam continued, Davi lost interest in listening to the discussions from the crowd…
"System... How can I heal Gravilis and raise his rank?" Davi asked.
"I don't believe you lack the method… You healed my soul back in the cosmos almost instantly" Davi said inwardly after sometime having no received no information from the system.
Davi focused his thought as he tried to feel the bond of Gravilis the duskwisp drake that lay curled up exhausted by his side.
For some weird reason, Davi was the only person that seemed not to notice the strong foul stench of decay coming from the Gravilis.
Breathing shallowly, its scales non extinct… it looked truly pitiful like a malnourished lizard.
Gravilis like any other drake looked like a wingless dragon and lizard-like… Unlike regular drakes it is about the size of a full grown german shepherd dog breed.
Although this might sound big, its actually small compared to how a usual drake which could be ten meters long… Its eyes dim wit most of its scales having fallen of due to its injury.
Its venomous tail longer than its whole body combined about four feet long, thick at the base, tapering into a sharp, bladed tip that drips slow-acting venom. The scales along the tail are ridged and slightly raised however only very few remained.
Helping it deliver crushing whips or precise stabs in battle, when agitated, faint pulses of its elemental energy (decay) glow along the tail's length.
Davi continued…
"Oh! That reminds me… I've only seen part of the Pet Store which is the info, what else does it contain in full?" Davi asked.
[Asura System: Sub-panel - Open]
[-System's Pet Shop (Expanded View)]
[-Pet Info]
[-Pet Diagnostics]
[-Pet Inventory]
[-Pet Info: Displayed]
[Name: Gravilis]
[Rank: E]
[Status: Injured]
[Affinity: Decay / Earth]
[Age: 12 years]
[Breed Class: Uncommon]
[Base Element: Earth]
[Sub-Element: Decay]
[Combat Role: Ambush Specialist (23.45%) | Terrain Modifier (1.002%)] [Notable Traits:]
[Wisp Veins (Status: Poor): Allows silent movement through shallow earth]
[Rotfangs (Status: Not Bad): Necrotic tail venom inflicts slow-acting poison]
[-Pet Diagnostics: Displayed]
[Pet Compatibility Index: A compatibility meter that helps determine synergy between user and bonded beasts (Locked: Requires Bond Sync > 37%)]
[Pet Evolution: Increase your cultivation, Increase rank of pet, Increase bond & Collect needed materials]
[Pet's Possible Evolution Routes: …]
[Sandstorm Drake: Specializes in desert combat, sand manipulation, high-speed rotation attacks]
[Gains ability: ???]
[Material Requirements: Host hasn't reached the required level of authority!]
[Decayrend Drake: Focused on erosion and corruption, spreads decay through environment and touch]
[Gains ability: ???]
[Material Requirements: Host hasn't reached the required level of authority!]
[Gravemire Drake: Swamp-dwelling variant; Uses miasmic earth, and terrain poisoning.]
[Gains ability: ???]
[Material Requirements: Host hasn't reached the required level of authority!]
[Bond Sync: 7.04%]
[ Pet Familiar Archive: Stores detailed evolution records, ancestry, and bloodline purity of all tamed beasts (Locked…Available at Level 18)]
[-Pet Inventory: Displayed]
[-Pet skills store (Locked) ]
[Host has limited access due to low authority (lv.3)]
[Beast Sanctum: 'Where the souls of beasts whisper, and forbidden bonds are forged' (Locked)]
[Requirements: Beast Codex, …]
[Host has limited access due to low authority (lv.3)]
[-Pets ???]
[Host has limited access due to low authority (lv.3)]
Davi's brow furrowed as panels floated before him.
For the second time since obtaining the asura system, davi was lost for words the shear amount of potential for growth that his new pet granted him was just so…
~Sigh.
Causing his low strength which limited assess to the inventory he navigated the system further as he re-read through the information this time more calmly than before.
Davi swallowed hard.
The Pet Store wasn't just a healing and stat-checking interface, it was a full ecosystem of power, history, and secrets…
"No one must find out about this" Davi vowed inwardly.
Davi's eyes narrowed, he needed to grow fast… Both in strength and system authority.
"System, diagnose what's wrong with Gravilis. Why hasn't he healed yet?" Davi asked.
"The system should be able to do this right?" Davi asked himself although quite skeptical about what could happen next.
[Analyzing...]
[Diagnosis: …]
[Necrotic Vein Damage (Decay Affinity Feedback Loop)]
[Poison Overload in Tail Venom Sacs]
[Earth Core Depletion: Inability to draw energy from environment]
[Bond Sync Deficiency]
[Assessment: Gravilis suffers from an internal elemental clash due to exposure to residual contamination during a prior mutation event… Specifically, during an elemental adaptation in the volatile zones of Bonecradle Range.
That environment, long scarred by unstable leyline fractures and raw mana pockets, forced a surge of Decay affinity to surface violently, clashing with Gravilis's original Earth alignment.
Prolonged exposure without a stable elemental buffer caused his core to fracture subtly, leading to his current condition.
Bonecradle Range isn't just a source of healing materials, but one of the top three most dangerous regions in the ashwood forest due to the miasma that exist in that area.
It's a place tied to Gravilis's evolving identity]
"Why is this system overly supportive today? Ayo!... I must cherish this opportunity… Who know when it would return back to its self centered self?" Davi thought inwardly.
"What do I need to heal Gravilis?" Davi asked.
[Healing Gravilis, host's new pet, requires the following materials: Necrotic herb, Veinstone dust, ashwood liquid]
[Ding!]
[Alert!!! Mission Notice]
[Mission Title: Gravilis Recovery]
[ Task: Retrieve Healing Components for Gravilis]
[Objective:
Locate Bonecradle Range at the edge of Ashwood Forest.
Harvest Necrotic Herb (x3)
Mine Veinstone Dust from the valley just before bonecradle range
Retrieve ashwood liquid]
[Time Limit: Activated upon initiation of third trial (6 hours)]
[Reward:
Gravilis healing and stat restoration
Pet Bond Increased
+20 Soul points, +50 Exp points and +50 Asura points]
[Bonus Reward: Skill from pet skills store unlocked; Shared Vision (One-Time Use)
Allows Host to sync perception of sight with pet for six hours. Will be activated upon beginning the mission to aid host retrieve the ashwood liquid]
[Warning: High emotional exposure, host looses eye body coordination for the first few minutes]
[Penalty: 1 hour of soul torture]
Davi blinked as wave after wave of data rushed across his mind.
"Did this system just give me a skill to see? That means my sight really can be restored" Davi thought.
"Yes! Finally I can at least see what russell looks like, and myself… and discover this new world… That aside I wonder how a Gravilis sees hopefully it isn't in black and white" Davi thought as some form of anticipation built up.
His hand instinctively reached out to stroke Gravilis's breathing weakly.
"I'll fix this"
Gravilis slowly lifted up its eyes to look at Davi that couldn't see him but felt his resolve like a barrier finally broke the system rang out.
[Ding!]
[Host has increased bond with gravilis]
[Bond Sync: 7.04% > 9.57%]
"Oh! That was fast. I didn't know your able to understand me… Hehe am starting to like you" Davi said aloud.
"Finally returned from your dream… Sad you missed the show the exam is almost at its end" Russell said as he heard Davi's voice.
"Its about time the do so… I wonder how long this exam would run for?" Davi said.
"No Idea" Russell responded.
"Well then, I hope you bought a tent? You don't expect us to sleep out in the open right?" Davi asked.
"Who says we would sleep here? Of course we are returning back to the inn… I am not spending any more rubbies!" Russell replied.
"Fine, lets be on our way then… besides am starving ohk" Davi said expressionlessly.
"You always are!!!" Russell replied frustrated at davis questions.
"Ohk, Ok… I get you no need to shout" Davi said teasingly.
As their blicker continued, the crowd lost interest in watching them, soon the first test came to an official close.
Grandmaster Halver floated above the stone platform, by his side, Lady Stacy stood and magical projectors.
His voice boomed as he announced the result.
"Of the original 50,000 candidates for this beast taming exam..."
The crowd fell silent.
"817 of you managed to tame a beast."
A collective gasp erupted.
"11,207 forfeited."
The tone shifted.
"7,856 perished."
The quiet turned to stunned awe.
"30,937 remain.
You are the survivors and will proceed to the next exam.
The Exam of Mana Control and Elemental Affinity will be held at sunrise tomorrow. Prepare accordingly" Grandmaster Halver said as soon he left along with the archon and other grandmasters around the arena.
A commotion broke out.
Davi stood beside Russell, who remained stoic, arms crossed.
Just as they where about to go back to the inn in the capital… With the sun already setting across the horizon, a young man walked toward them, confident but humble in his gait.
He had hay-colored hair, worn boots, and bright eyes.
"Hey," he greeted, extending a calloused hand to Russell already aware of Davi's blindness.
"Name's Loken Ani from Neighrad"
Russell raised a brow as he accepted the handshake. "Russell" He introduced himself.
Davi didn't respond but simply just listened to their conversation.
"I saw what you did… that bond with your drake beast, it was impressive" Loken said as he paused to observe the twin duo.
Russell got offended.
"Hey don't you dare insult my brothers beast… No because you have that thing behind you" Russell said.
Looking at the stong beast tailing behind Loken, he choose his words carefully knowing fully well that in a head on clash they probably would be on the loosing side.
Still he would not just watch on as Davi gets insulted, although he to admitted that Davi's beast was indeed pitiful.
"Haha… Who is insulting your brother's beast… We both know how difficult it is to tame one although I must say, mine is more bitey" Loken said.
As he gestured to the massive Mist Scorpion trailing behind him, its legs clicking as steam hissed from its tail
Russell in shock said "You tamed that? Isn't that a B rank beast?" he asked.
"Correct Poison is a and B poison affinity mist scorpion. Took a sting to the chest, nearly died guess he respected the madness and choose me" Loken chuckled obviously not forgetting to brag in the process.
"Tsk!" Davi responded.
"Oh! And who must you be?" Loken asked although he knew the answer.
"Davi, his brother" He responded.
"Why approach us?" Russell asked.
Loken grinned, a faint scar pulling at the edge of his jaw.
His voice was light, but his eyes carried a sharpness that spoke of hardship.
"Gut feeling… I was raised in the a small town near a forest at neighrad, where bonding with beasts was more survival than choice, after failing countless times, I finally succeeded today" He responded
"I like strong allies… We'll probably face off one day, might as well not be strangers." Loken said after some time again putting both Davi and Russell on alert.
Davi immediately got into a battle ready position and began to circulate the hell of torment sutra madly absorbing the nen energy catching the attention of several others as they stayed back to watch the show.
Davi was ready to strike at any time as all his senses where at their peak as he had windcaller ready by his side.
"Woah! Calm down I am not fighting ohk? Heck!!! Your one scary fellow… I wonder what your awakened ability is to enable you devour nen like nothing" Loken said attracting nods of affirmation form the onlooking crowd.
"Then if you would excuse us…" Russell said as both he, Davi and gravilis made their way back to the capital.
"That guy is suspicious" Davi said as they have left the crowd.
"Definitely… He sure is on to something… Do you think he has an idea of our origins?" Russell asked.
"Maybe… Lets be careful" Davi responded
"This place is crawling with monsters just the power of that grandmaster alone is something not to mention the archon… we need to be very careful in the following exams" Russell said.
Soon they twin duo arrived at the capital this time a bit longer due to Gravilis injury.