During the following weeks, Ren worked alongside Wei meticulously reviewing every aspect of cultivation for the five selected beasts.
With the forced rest period, Ren divided his time between preparation for final theoretical exams and the meticulous care of the remaining eggs.
The egg destined for Lin was the first to show signs of being ready after just 2 days. Ren immediately sent a message to the instructor through Liu, who was also anxious about his own egg. Lin took no more than ten minutes to arrive at the room.
"Is it truly ready?" Lin asked as she entered, her usual composure slightly altered by a gleam of anticipation in her eyes.
Ren nodded, his mushrooms pulsing softly as he stepped back to give the instructor space. The egg sat in its specialized nest, emitting a steady reddish glow that bathed the room in warm light.
Lin followed the simple instructions. Her hands, calloused from years of martial arts training, rested delicately on the crystalline surface of the egg. The connection formed immediately, a resonance of energy flowing between tamer and beast.
The process was dramatic and elegant, reflecting the nature of the beast it contained. The egg didn't explode or melt; instead, it divided perfectly into 4 parts that separated like opening petals. In the center, wrapped in a reddish glow, appeared a creature that combined feline and reptilian elements.
The lizard fire panther was approximately the size of a large dog, with brilliant scales covering a muscular and agile body. Its eyes immediately fixed on Lin, recognizing its tamer with instinctive certainty.
"What an extraordinary and nostalgic sensation," Lin murmured, her expression softening slightly.
"I suppose you haven't felt it more than twice, when you acquired your beast and when you rose to Bronze 1... The 40% increases are also considerable," Ren understood, observing her reaction with satisfaction. "Forty percent in speed and strength, perfectly complementing your crane's enhancement."
Lin nodded, already mentally calculating how these new attributes would affect her capabilities. Her crane, already at Bronze 1 rank, provided an 80% increase in those same attributes. With this addition, she would reach a not insignificant one hundred and twenty percent.
"This will change my combat approach," she reflected, her fingers lightly running along the panther's scaled back. "I believe I'll be able to break through the defenses of some Silver-rank beasts without resorting to internal displacement techniques that damage their organs."
"Surely," Ren confirmed. "Your technique and base strength far above average, especially in your legs, combined with this enhancement, will allow external damage to be sufficient to overcome many defenses you couldn't break before. Especially of non-defensive beasts."
Lin allowed a satisfied smile to briefly appear on her lips. "Of course, I would still need to find the weak point of a Gold 1 rank even with the worst defense, like the chin, if I wanted to cause damage with a brain concussion. And I still won't be able to damage a defense that exceeds my attack capacity but..."
"But not just any armor or resistant skin will withstand your kicks anymore," Ren completed with a smile.
Lin gently stroked her new beast, feeling the comforting warmth it emanated. The panther leaned into her touch, its body heat intensifying pleasantly where her fingers made contact. "Thank you, Ren. This is an invaluable gift."
"It's not a gift," Ren responded with seriousness, handing over the already expected book. "It's an investment in our collective security."
The instructor looked at him intensely for a moment, as if reassessing the extraordinary young man before her. Finally, she nodded, accepting both the beast and the responsibility it represented.
♢♢♢♢
A week later, it was Liu's egg's turn.
Ren nodded, seeing the mixture of excitement and nervousness in his roommate. "When you're ready, place your hands on the egg." frёeweɓηovel.coɱ
Liu breathed deeply before following the instructions. His fingers trembled slightly as they made contact with the crystalline surface.
The response was immediate. The egg began to emit a low-frequency sound, almost inaudible but that could be felt as a vibration in the bones.
"Is this normal?" Liu asked, suddenly unsure. His eyes widened as the vibrations intensified.
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