Chereads / My Beast Seeker System Sucks!! / Chapter 17 - Chapter 17 (Training Begins!)

Chapter 17 - Chapter 17 (Training Begins!)

The next morning, I woke up with a sense of anticipation. I knew I had to get back to the Astral Realm to practice capturing beasts.

"Book!"

"Good morning, Kyle!" the book greeted me cheerfully. "Ready for your first real practice session?"

"As ready as I'll ever be," I replied, determination in my voice. "So, what's first?"

"First, you'll need to practice your skills in a controlled environment," the book explained. "I'll create a simulation where you can hone your abilities without any real danger. Think of it as a training montage, minus the inspirational music."

"Sounds good," I said, nodding. "Let's do this."

With a wave of its pages, the book conjured a training ground. The ground was a mix of various terrains: dense forests, rocky mountains, and open plains. In the distance, I could see mystical creatures roaming, each one more fantastical than the last.

"Welcome to your training ground," the book announced. "Here, you'll practice capturing simulated beasts. Don't worry, they won't actually hurt you. Much."

"Gee, thanks for the reassurance," I muttered, rolling my eyes.

The book chuckled. "Let's start with something simple. See that small creature over there?" It pointed to a rabbit-like creature with shimmering fur and glowing eyes. "That's a Moon Hare. A low-level beast, but perfect for beginners. Use your agility to trap it, and remember to manage your mana."

I took a deep breath and focused on the Moon Hare. It looked so innocent, hopping around and nibbling on the grass. But I knew better than to underestimate it.

As I approached, the Moon Hare's ears twitched. Suddenly, it darted off with a burst of speed that took me by surprise.

"Whoa, it's fast!" I exclaimed, sprinting after it.

The Moon Hare zigzagged through the forest, using its small size to slip through narrow gaps between trees and underbrush. I had to push myself to keep up, leaping over fallen logs and dodging low-hanging branches. My mana-enhanced agility helped, but the Moon Hare was always just out of reach.

"Come on, Kyle! Don't let a bunny outsmart you!" the book taunted from behind me.

"Not helping!" I snapped back, panting. I needed a plan. Just chasing the hare blindly wasn't going to work.

I remembered the book mentioning managing my mana. I focused on channeling my energy to my feet to increase my speed and reflexes even further. With a deep breath, I surged forward, my movements becoming a blur.

The Moon Hare made a sharp turn, darting into a rocky area. I followed,

determined not to lose sight of it. As I leaped over a boulder, I spotted the hare pausing briefly, as if assessing its next move. This was my chance.

I propelled myself forward and tackled the hare. It wriggled and squirmed, but I held firm. The hare's movements slowed and calmed down.

"I got it!" I exclaimed, panting and grinning from ear to ear.

"Nicely done," the book said, floating over to inspect my catch. "You have successfully captured your first beast. The Moon Hare may be easy, but it's a start. You've earned 10 Ability Points (AP) for this capture."

"Only 10 points?" I asked, slightly deflated. "How many points do I need to unlock a decent ability?"

"Well, let's see," the book said, flipping through its pages. "The Elemental Burst ability, for instance, costs 50 points. So, you'll need to capture a few more beasts or go for a higher level one to accumulate the necessary points."

"Great, so I need to capture four more Moon Hares just to get that ability," I said, shaking my head. "Guess I better get to it."

"Indeed," the book agreed. "But remember, the more difficult the beast, the higher the reward. So, don't be afraid to challenge yourself."

The book paused, then added with a smirk, it smirked! The freakin book smirked! Well, Pororo is a talking stuff toy and I am in a weird place atm so I shouldn't be surprised but still!

"And maybe, just maybe, avoid getting too cozy with those low-level critters. You've got a lot more potential than bunny-chasing." The book continued.

"Alright, alright," I said, rolling my eyes. "What's next on the agenda?"

"For your next challenge, let's up the ante a bit," the book suggested. "How about a Fire Lizard? They're a bit trickier and pack a punch, but the reward will be worth it."

"Sounds dangerous," I said, feeling a mix of excitement and apprehension. "But I'm in. Let's do this."

The book waved its pages, and the training ground shifted. The forest melted away, replaced by a rocky, volcanic landscape with streams of lava flowing through it. In the distance, I spotted a lizard-like creature with scales that glowed like embers.

"There it is," the book said. "The Fire Lizard. Be cautious, Kyle. It has a fiery temperament and can shoot fireballs."

"Fantastic," I muttered, taking a deep breath. "Here we go."

I moved cautiously, trying to stay out of sight. The Fire Lizard was basking on a rock near a lava stream, its eyes half-closed. I needed to think strategically. Charging in like I did with the Moon Hare wasn't going to work.

"Remember, use your environment to your advantage," the book advised. "And keep your mana levels in check."

I nodded, inching closer. When I was within range, I quickly created a diversion by throwing a rock to the side. The lizard's head snapped towards the noise, and I took the opportunity to summon a vine using my the forest amulet from my sacred tool inventory to disorient it.

 The Fire Lizard hissed, clearly annoyed by the taggled vine on its body. It spun around, its eyes locking onto me. Before it could retaliate, I channeled my mana to increase my speed and agility, dodging a fireball it shot in my direction while burning the entangled vine on its body.

"Whoa, that was close! Vine attacks don't work!" I exclaimed, feeling the heat from the fireball as it whizzed past me.

"Keep moving! Don't let it corner you!" the book shouted.

I darted around, trying to stay ahead of the lizard's attacks. Using the rocky terrain to my advantage, I managed to get behind it. With a burst of mana, I created a binding spell from the book, wrapping magical light chains around the lizard.

The Fire Lizard thrashed and hissed, but the chains held firm. After a few moments, it stopped struggling and lay still.

"Nice work!" the book said, floating over to inspect the captured lizard. "That's another beast for your inventory and a solid 30 points to your total."

"30 points? Not bad," I said, wiping sweat from my brow. "So, that brings me to 40 points. I'm almost there."

"Indeed," the book said. "You're progressing well. Keep it up, and you'll have that Elemental Burst ability in no time."

"Thanks," I said, feeling a surge of confidence. "Let's keep going. What's next?"

The book paused, as if considering the options. "How about a Wind Serpent? They're elusive and fast, but capturing one will get you enough points to unlock your new ability."

"Sounds like a plan," I said, ready for the next challenge. "Let's do this."

The training ground shifted again, transforming into a windswept plateau. High above, I saw a serpent-like creature with translucent wings gliding effortlessly through the air.

"Alright, Book," I said, flipping it open as I ventured into the dense forest. "We need to capture the Wind Serpent to earn enough ability points to buy the Elemental Burst. Any last-minute advice?"

The pages fluttered, and the Book's voice, slightly sarcastic, echoed in my mind. "Try not to trip over your own feet this time."

"Very funny," I muttered, rolling my eyes. "Let's get this done."

The forest was alive with the sounds of creatures, and the air was thick with the scent of pine and damp earth. As I walked deeper, the shadows grew longer and the light dimmer. Every rustle in the underbrush made me jumpy, and the Book didn't help.

"Careful! That was a leaf," it teased. "You might want to avoid those—they can be pretty dangerous."

"Ha ha, hilarious," I replied, scanning the area for any sign of the Wind Serpent.

Suddenly, a gust of wind whipped through the trees, and there, coiled around an huge tree, was the Wind Serpent. Its scales shimmered against the sunlight, reflecting the colors of the twilight sky. The creature's eyes, a deep, swirling blue, locked onto mine, and I felt a chill run down my spine. This was it—the moment of truth.

"Okay, Book, any real advice now?" I asked, tightening my grip on the capturing net.

"Try not to get eaten," it quipped.

"Great, thanks for that. Really helpful"

The Wind Serpent hissed, sensing my presence, and lunged towards me with lightning speed. I barely dodged its attack, rolling to the side and springing to my feet. The battle was on. I needed to earn enough ability points from capturing this beast to buy the Elemental Burst, and I couldn't afford to mess up.

"Watch out for its tail!" the Book shouted in my mind, a second before the serpent's tail whipped past my head, missing me by inches.

"Yeah, got it!" I yelled back, darting to the side and trying to flank the creature.

The serpent was fast, but with the Book's guidance, I managed to stay one step ahead. Every dodge and strike earned me valuable points. I could feel the power building inside me, pushing me towards my goal.

"You're doing great—if by great you mean not dying," the Book said, a hint of pride in its voice.

"Thanks for the vote of confidence," I grunted, narrowly avoiding another strike from the serpent.

The points kept racking up, and I knew I was close. I just needed one final push. The serpent lunged again, and this time, I was ready. With a burst of speed, I dodged to the side and threw the capturing net made up of forest vines strong enough to disable the beast with all my might. It wrapped around the serpent, binding it tightly.

"Gotcha!" I exclaimed, panting heavily.

The Wind Serpent struggled for a moment before finally succumbing. I approached cautiously, securing the net and earning the last of the ability points I needed. The serpent's eyes met mine, and I saw a flicker of respect in its gaze.

"Well done," the Book said, genuinely impressed. "You actually pulled it off."

"I couldn't have done it without you," I replied, grinning. "Even if you are a bit of a pain in the ass sometimes."

"Just a bit?" the Book quipped. "I must be losing my touch."

With the Wind Serpent captured and the points accumulated, I accessed the Book's inventory and purchased the Elemental Burst. A surge of energy coursed through me, filling me with energy.

With the Wind Serpent captured and the Elemental Burst in my possession, I grew increasingly confident with my newfound abilities.

I knew it wouldn't be easy, but with the Book of Eldritch by my side, I felt more prepared and equipped to capture actual beasts in the physical world.