"That's it!
"That mysterious connection is the bond and spiritual link between you and your War Soul." While scrutinizing Bumpkin closely, Mu Suyin explained as her eyes moved, "With your Soul Origin Crystal as a medium, both your and Bumpkin's fate has now joined as one. Treat it well in the future."
"Without your eyesight, it's essential that you to developed your bond connection with Bumpkin.
"As the bond grew more potent, it would greatly aid you in the future battle against your opponents. In a sense, it could serve as your eyes."
Shaking his head, Myah dully replied, "I... I still don't understand. How can I improve our bond?"
Once they sat on along a wooden stool with the tall apple tree blocking away the scorching sunlight, Mu Suyin steadily explained in great detail,
"The principle is relatively straightforward.
"Just communicate with it frequently through the connection you shared. Most importantly, both of you need to understand each other's thoughts and feelings.
"Myah, you have to know that a War Soul is not a tool nor a weapon to fight. But, it's your lifelong partner with a mind of its own.
"Naturally, your bond will become stronger and accumulate over a long period of time as both of you fight side-by-side or solely live out your everyday life.
"Everything has a meaning, and even the most mundane thing like eating is not an exception. Although in usual occurrences, the stimulation from a real-life and death battle proved to be more efficient."
...
Myah continues to listen and only understood a bit, but he gets the general ideas. Whenever he has a question and is puzzled, Mu Suyin would explain patiently, with Bumpkin also accompanying them.
Nom!
Nom! Nom!*
Laying leisurely next to Myah's feet, Bumpkin chewed on the ripened apples that fell on the ground. But soon, it spits out the apple chunks with a contemptuous expression as if to say,
'Sweet apples are a disappointment!'
'Pui! Pui!'
...
Unknowingly, time passed like the ever-flowing river.
After hours of wholeheartedly listening to his grandma's teaching about War Souls in general, it has dramatically broadened Myah's overall knowledge.
Without warning, dusk arrived as a blazed vermilion hue painted athwart the sky stunningly.
At this point, the little guy's stomach started wailings in desire.
"Well, we are done for today. Grandma will go and heat up the meat stew and rice.
"In the meantime, go on with the daily practice that you have skipped today. It would be best to get accustomed and learn how to handle your sudden jumps in strength properly."
"Well, you have played long enough. Work hard, and grandma will teach you a spear technique tomorrow." Getting up from her seat, Mu Suyin patted Myah on the head before walking to the kitchen.
"Yay!" He cheered.
At first, Myah was confused, but then it converted to joy. "The actual training could finally begin tomorrow. Bumpkin, let's work hard together!"
After becoming his War Soul, Bumpkin could instantly sense Myah's intention and know what he means through the close connection of their spiritual link.
Bumpkin doesn't look very optimistic,
After it has become a Mid-stage Rank One War Soul, the previous training wouldn't be as effective as before.
In the end, it still prefers to just laze around with Myah rubbing its tummy.
"Wooo..."
After Bumpkin loaded the weights into the buckets by itself, it couldn't help but let out a faint whimper before started running around the house.
Accompanied the cooling wind of twilight, the familiar everyday sounds of rock crashed, and horse hooves rang about at a particular part of the village.
——
The scene changed.
It was nighttime, within the expansive mountain range situated in the peripheral area of the Eflo Woodland.
A mysterious and shadowy figure of an unknown monstrous beast soundlessly traversing rapidly through the densely packed forest.
The numerous ancient trees stand erected upward like gigantic black umbrellas as they wholly blocked out the moonlight, causing the entire mountain range more than just gloomy. It was enveloped in utter darkness.
With those deadly scarlet eyes scanning about its habitual hunting ground, the unknown beast continued to move.
It was incredibly swift and agile!
Those unrestrained feet continued to spring onto the boundless sea of dried leaves and the easily broken tree twigs. However, such nonchalant movements made not even the slightest bit sound.
It moved like a ghost!
Although the darkness was covering its track and there were no sounds, the strange beast's constantly moving silhouette involuntarily radiated formless sinister and crazed demonic energy, which gives away its position like a blazing sun.
Just the mere remnant of its lingering aura left behind in the air wherever the mysterious beast passed through was enough to repel away all the other night hunters into their hiding places.
Other than the incessant buzzing of small insects, the night was dead and stagnant, quickly slithering into anyone's backbone and giving them a chilly goosebump.
...
Meanwhile,
A few kilometers away, a small group of adventurers has long finished setting up their camp and prepared to rest for the night.
After days of constant struggles and ceaseless traveling, they were exhausted.
It was a small group of seven people consisting of five men and two women.
As everyone rested around the small bonfire, they started chattering, quarreling, and cracking jokes to each other, trying to entertain themself and relieving some stress accumulated throughout the day.
"Man, this grilled meat smells heavenly.
"Tsk! Unfortunately, the ales already ran out days ago. F*Ck! The next time we go out on a mission, don't stop me from carrying extra."
"Heh, how large do you think our storage tool is? Take more, and those ales will save your life when you are in danger, hahaha!" A brute-looking middle-aged man with a thick mustache snickered.
"Pui! Look at yourself in the mirror, Erik. It's you who drank most the most every time. F*cking dimwit!"
"Shhh! Lower your voices. It's already dark, and if you want to die, go somewhere else. Don't drag me along with you." While sitting on an impaired tree log, a brown-haired woman gave the big-bellied man a death glare before she warned him in a low but clear voice.
With a sneer, he replied, "Humph! Do not tell me what to do, you big busted woman!"
Before things could get any livelier, their group leader, a muscular grizzled hair woman, glared. "Shut up, Edward, one more word from you, and I will let you taste some of these iron fists."
"Okay, fine, I'm just joking. Hey! Hey! no, you don't have t—"
...
After asserting her authority, the grizzled hair woman put on a stern face. She continued, "Though I don't know about the details, there are rumors that Hendrik's Silver Fang Adventurers group has been running around this side of the mountain range for months...
"Although the beasts have gradually migrated away to other places and are relatively calm, we still have to watch out for those blood-thirsty scoundrels!"
As everyone in the group looked at the grizzled hair woman menacingly gritted her teeth.
A tide of anger also surged in their hearts.
After the anomaly of the Spear Soul many days ago, numerous unfamiliar faces have been popping up like mushrooms in the surrounding of the Eflo Woodland.
Since this place was their base and root of operation, the influx of adventurers from other regions of the kingdom has inevitably led to much slaughter and disputes.
Although they have already taken extra caution, their group is not spared from the conflict.
Just a few days ago, they had encountered a group of mercenaries which ultimately ended up in a bloody battle. When the fight concluded, three of their members died.
The fight was pointless, and so is their death.
Sigh!
"The Eflo Woodland is getting increasingly chaotic lately. Now, even the outskirts of the forest are no longer safe to carry out hunts and missions.
"If this state continued...
"Haiiii, I'm afraid we will have to move to another location."