As they emerged, they found themselves in the reward room of the dungeon. It was filled with gold, and Cedric even spotted some minerals like rose diamond, orichalcum, and mithril. There were also mana crystals, with the lowest grade being middle and even some high-grade crystals. Then he discovered two open boxes on a pedestal. One contained the heart of some beast, and the other contained gloves with finger openings made of a liquid metal mix, likely a combination of adamantium and magic mercury, making it both strong and malleable at the same time.
Goldenfist seemed particularly drawn to the heart, so he took the gloves and put them on. Cedric gave the heart to Goldenfist, and after storing the rest of the treasures in his storage ring, it disappeared, and they found themselves back in the clearing. The dungeon was still there, but they would not be able to enter it for some time as it refreshed.
As they made their way back to the house tree, Goldenfist parted ways with Cedric. Curious about the capabilities of the gloves, Cedric decided to test their strength with all his weapons. Since all his weapons were made of top-grade materials, he wanted to see if the gloves could match up. He launched a rock using only physical power, and it shattered upon impact. Cedric examined his fist, realizing that the gloves had the ability to disperse impact, reducing harm to the user by striking hard surfaces. This greatly increased the durability of the wearer, leaving Cedric satisfied with his discovery.
The following day, while Cedric went exploring, Goldenfist was absent, likely still absorbing the heart's blood essence of the beast. This pattern continued for two weeks before Goldenfist finally reappeared. It now had more golden fur, extending up its arm to the shoulder. Goldenfist also seemed a bit taller, and his aura had definitely intensified. Despite these changes, Cedric was confident that he could still defeat Goldenfist. In their first fight, Cedric had only used his fist and still it ended in a draw, affirming his belief in his superior strength.
They continued their exploration, returning to the clearing and venturing further this time. During their journey, they encountered another 4-eyed monkey, but this one was non-mutated, with brown fur. It seemed intimidated by Goldenfist and quickly ran away. Continuing on their path, they came across a dragonoid horse. Cedric was astonished by its appearance – a small horn on its head, scales from hooves to knees on all four legs, and an evident silver rank strength despite being just a foal.
Determined to tame it and make it his mount, Cedric signaled Goldenfist to stay back and approached the dragonoid horse. These creatures, influenced by the dragon blood in them, were known for their pride and the belief that they were strong enough to be alone. This one, however, had strayed from its group, providing Cedric with an opportunity to tame it.
Cedric activated his Northstar Footwork, dashing towards the horse with extreme speed, and climbed onto its back. Despite the horse's attempts to shake him off, Cedric held on, utilizing the Conqueror trait to suppress and eventually calm the beast. After some time, the dragonoid horse stopped resisting and acknowledged Cedric as its new owner. In a gesture of bonding, Cedric retrieved a high-grade mana crystal and fed it to the horse, knowing that dragons, even sub-species, loved this type of nourishment.
Shortly after this act, Cedric received a notification from the Conqueror system: "Congratulations to the host for completing one of the tasks to upgrade by subduing a silver rank beast with a higher bloodline. Two tasks now remain for the trait upgrade." This accomplishment marked a significant step in enhancing Cedric's abilities and strengthening his Conqueror trait.
With the dragonoid horse now tamed, Cedric and Goldenfist continued their exploration, riding on the newly acquired beast. As they delved deeper into the forest, Cedric marveled at the newfound companionship and strength that the dragonoid horse brought to their journey. Little did they know that more challenges and discoveries awaited them in the heart of the Thundra forest.
As they ventured deeper into the forest, the absence of other beasts or treasures prompted them to decide to return for the day. Upon reaching the tree house, Goldenfist, as was his usual routine, went his separate way. Cedric, grateful for the companionship of Blackcomet, the name he bestowed upon his newly tamed dragonoid horse, contemplated the potential growth that awaited the creature. Although still a foal, Blackcomet stood at an impressive two meters tall, and Cedric anticipated that it would enter the next stage of development once he reached the gold stage himself.
Cedric took out some middle-grade mana stones and fed them to Blackcomet. The dragonoid horse eagerly consumed the nourishing crystals, its bond with Cedric growing stronger with each interaction. Content with Blackcomet's well-being, Cedric proceeded to enjoy a meal of Thunder Catfish fillet, savoring the flavors of his successful hunt from earlier. After replenishing his energy, Cedric settled into a meditative state, utilizing the tranquility of his tree house to focus on refining his mana control and deepening his connection to the Conqueror trait.
As he meditated, Cedric reflected on the events that had unfolded during his time in the Thundra forest. From the early days of training under Eustace to the recent taming of Blackcomet, each experience contributed to his growth as a martial artist and a conqueror. The forest, once an intimidating expanse, now felt like a realm where Cedric could test his skills, encounter formidable beasts, and uncover hidden treasures.
The convergence of these experiences and the evolving bond with his companions fueled Cedric's determination to reach greater heights. With Blackcomet as his loyal companion and the potential for more challenges within the Thundra forest, Cedric anticipated that his journey was far from over. As the tranquility of the forest enveloped him, he delved deeper into meditation, preparing for the trials and discoveries that awaited him on the morrow.