NOVGO.NET Chapter 611 - Taming Golden Rank - 2
Chapter 611: Chapter 611 – Taming Golden Rank – 2
“I think you’re right,” Ren murmured to Taro, a spark of hope igniting in his chest. “Even though I lost it, I could feel it for a moment… I still have a slight connection. It’s still the foundation of my development even though it’s dormant. I still can… I can move forward.”
Julius and Selphira exchanged meaningful glances. They knew exactly what Ren was about to show everyone, and the implications of allowing it.
But they had agreed that the people in this room could know. They had always been Ren’s allies, possessed discretion, and understood that some secrets were worth protecting.
Ren looked at those present, seeing recognition in their faces. “I’m going to do it,” he announced. “I’m going to become the world’s first ’natural’ four-beast tamer.”
The silence that followed was absolute. Even those who had suspected this was possible were left speechless hearing such a direct declaration.
Ren positioned the mantis egg in front of him and began the contract process.
The mantis’s base bonus was 40% in speed and attack, respectable though not extraordinary for someone at his level. But Ren hadn’t selected it just for the bonuses. It was here for the synergies, for combinations that could transform the ordinary into exceptional.
And then something happened that nobody had expected.
As had occurred with his Wolverine, the mantis began connecting with the seed’s roots. The connections formed rapidly, and the mantis began mutating in ways that defied its base biology.
Elemental lines began combining to generate the same jade light from that time, but now it was slightly different. Now there were three extra beasts in Ren’s system, three energy sources interacting in ways that had never been tested before.
The energetic synergy began affecting not only the mantis but also the Diamond Hydra. The crystals covering the hydra’s body absorbed the light as well, their faceted surfaces beginning to glow with inner radiance.
The jade mantis took its place in Ren’s arsenal, but when the process finally completed, its bonuses weren’t the expected 40%.
They were now 50% base for all his beasts. A generalized Tier 3.
Beyond that, Ren felt an increase in his elemental control that went beyond what any individual bonus should provide. The three beasts were resonating together, amplifying not only their individual powers but creating emergent effects that were more than the sum of their parts.
The small mantis, about fifty centimeters long, emerged from the egg with movements that were paradoxically stoic yet fluid. Its jade body gleamed under the room’s light, each facet reflecting rainbows of color. The creature’s triangular head swiveled, taking in its surroundings with compound eyes that seemed to see more than just the physical world.
“Seems like it wasn’t so bad,” Ren murmured, a small but genuine smile appearing on his face for the first time since beginning the process.
He looked at his hands, feeling the new power flowing through his system, but also the void where the complete connection with his fungus should have been. The absence was a constant ache, like a phantom limb that his mind kept reaching for.
“I had hoped,” he finally murmured, “to better understand crystallization. If I could reverse it…”
He didn’t need to finish. Everyone knew whom he was referring to. Lin stepped forward to place a hand on his shoulder, her grip firm and reassuring.
Luna finally approached too, having abandoned her distant position. “So Mooshito…”
“Didn’t return,” Ren admitted, and the pain in his voice was real. “But he’s still there,” he added more forcefully, his jaw setting with determination. “I still won’t give up on recovering my beast’s capabilities to the maximum.”
He felt the new power flowing through his system. It was different from what he expected, but undeniably powerful.
“Without my main beast completely recovered, reversing crystallization is far from possible,” he continued, clenching his fists. “I’ll have to keep advancing. Maybe if I get the rings the King was searching for…”
“Ren.” Julius’s voice cut through his thoughts. “Don’t rush.”
Selphira nodded, approaching with an expression that had both pride and concern. “You must learn from your mistakes. Desperation has led you to dangerous places, both internally and externally.”
Everyone nodded with varying degrees of emphasis. The memory of corrupted Ren was still fresh enough to make them all uncomfortable.
“The last thing we want,” Min joked, trying to lighten the tense atmosphere, “is an evil Ren again. Now with three beasts you’d be even more problematic…”
“And the other last thing we want,” Mayo replied without missing a beat, “is an evil Min telling bad jokes all the time.”
The room filled with small laughs. Even Ren couldn’t help but smile, though concern remained present in his eyes.
Selphira waited for the laughter to fade before continuing.
“Before going out to search for ancestral artifacts or face challenges that nearly killed our King,” her tone became serious, “you also have to earn the right to do it. If you’re a noble, you can leave more easily without having to do it… the hard way again.”
She paused meaningfully. “For that, you must finish the 4th year and pass the tests.”
“Though I’m sure you’ll be able to pass them easily,” she added with a small smile.
“First he’ll have to fight me at the end of the year,” Liora interrupted, her eyes shining with competitive determination. “Maybe he will not end with first place this time… this time you won’t beat me on the final exams.”
Ren sighed deeply, but there was acceptance in the sound. “You’re right. There’s still much to do…”
Zhao approached, studying Ren with the gaze of a teacher who had watched his student grow. “The techniques you’ve developed are impressive, but don’t let power make you forget the fundamentals. Creativity without discipline is chaos.”
“And chaos,” Yang added dryly, “tends to explode in your face in spectacular ways.”
Ignatius, who had been observing silently, added his grain of sand. “The brightest fire isn’t necessarily the most useful. Sometimes, constant and controlled flames achieve more than dramatic explosions.”
♢♢♢♢
The weeks that followed were a blur of intense activity…
Then the last months passed with the peculiar speed of academic time, where each individual hour seemed eternal but days flew by.
And then, almost without realizing it, the end of the fourth year arrived.
The exam was intense as always.
The results were so close they had to verify them three times.
“Technical tie due to time limit,” the professor announced with an expression of disbelief.
Liora’s group (her, Larissa, and Luna) exchanged glances with Ren’s (him, Min, and Taro). Then they smiled simultaneously.
“Next time,” she promised.
“Next time,” he agreed.
♢♢♢♢
The fourth year end vacation arrived with the characteristic relief of having survived another academic cycle.
Ren was finally entering his fifth year, a milestone that had seemed impossibly distant when he’d started as the boy with the weakest beast.
But today wasn’t about academy or power or politics.
Today, after so long, he would finally see his parents again.
Ren stood before the now ’enormous’ door, his hand raised to knock but hesitating. How much had changed this time? Would they recognize the person he’d become? Would they be proud, or worried about the path he’d taken?
He breathed deeply, steadying himself.
And knocked on the door.
End of Vol.