Karma had returned to the inn after the announcement of the tournament block assignments. The pressure of the upcoming challenges weighed heavily on him. There were only a few days left before the actual matches began, and he needed to hone his skills even further. The battle against Jaden, the fire mage, seemed inevitable. He could already sense the simmering tension between them, a rivalry forming as the tournament's start date drew closer.
But there was one thing Karma had yet to fully explore—the abilities of his two newly tamed Tyrants. The giant ants that he had acquired in the desert had been a tactical advantage, and their abilities were still unknown to him. He had used them in combat for their sheer strength and size, but he had yet to truly understand their full potential. And given the intensity of the tournament ahead, it was crucial that he understood every aspect of their powers.
Karma sat cross-legged on the bed in his room, the two Tyrants standing at attention in the corner. The insects were large, with armored bodies the size of small horses, their crimson exoskeletons gleaming in the dim light. Despite their terrifying appearance, Karma had grown accustomed to them in a short span of time. They were his companions, and he needed to be able to rely on them.
**"Tyrants,"** Karma muttered under his breath. **"It's time to discover what you're really capable of."**
The two giant ants clicked their mandibles in response, their alien features turning toward him. Karma could feel their strong presence, the weight of their bodies shifting as they waited for his command. He had always had a deep connection with his tamed monsters, but these two felt different—more powerful, more intelligent. They were different from the usual creatures he had tamed, and he was eager to unlock their full potential.
He closed his eyes and focused on the bond he shared with them. Slowly, he activated his **synchronize** skill, linking his mind with the two Tyrants. His vision shifted, and suddenly he could see through their eyes, experiencing their senses as if they were his own.
The Tyrants' world was much different from Karma's. The ground was massive to them, their movements agile yet deliberate. Karma could feel their powerful limbs and sense the world around them as they scuttled, moving in perfect unison with one another. They were incredibly coordinated, their instincts refined after years of living in the desert. This wasn't just a normal beast he had tamed; these Tyrants were intelligent.
Karma closed his eyes and concentrated harder, allowing himself to probe deeper into the bond between him and his companions. That's when he felt it—a surge of energy from both Tyrants. **They were communicating with each other.**
**Long-distance communication?** Karma's heart raced. He had never experienced this with any of his tamed creatures before. The two Tyrants were somehow able to communicate over distances, a silent bond of understanding. His mind immediately went to the practical applications of this ability.
If he could find a way to control this communication, he could use it to spy on enemies, relay information, or even execute tactical maneuvers without the need for verbal instructions. It would be like having a pair of intelligent agents capable of gathering real-time intelligence for him. He needed to test this ability further.
Karma stood up, feeling the weight of his decision. He grabbed a piece of parchment and wrote a quick command, handing it to one of the Tyrants. It wasn't long before he ordered it to **minaturize**—to shrink down to a smaller size, just like the ability he had seen from some of his other tamed creatures in the past.
The Tyrant responded, its body shifting and shrinking, until it was no larger than a common rat. Its once massive legs were now tiny, but still powerful enough to carry out simple tasks.
Karma smiled to himself. **Good.**
Now came the tricky part. Karma turned to the second Tyrant, the one that had remained in its normal size. He gave it a command to stay close and observe, while the miniature Tyrant would do all the work. He instructed the shrunken ant to go outside and approach the target: a nearby merchant who frequented the market during the day. He needed some intelligence on his rivals, as the tournament was approaching and any information could be invaluable.
**"Go, my Tyrant,"** Karma whispered. **"Find the target. Use your ability to communicate and report back to me. I'll be waiting here. You know what to do."**
The smaller Tyrant scuttled away, its tiny form darting through the open window of Karma's inn. Karma felt the creature move, its legs lightly tapping against the ground. He could sense its every motion, every step as it journeyed into the bustling streets outside. He could hear faint murmurings of the merchant in the distance, the clinking of coins, and the general hubbub of city life.
While the smaller Tyrant was out gathering information, Karma focused on the other, larger one that remained close. He mentally communicated with it, ordering it to follow him around the room. He could feel its powerful presence at his side, its body moving as one with his will.
Then, without warning, Karma felt a wave of energy. The miniature Tyrant had encountered the merchant, and Karma's mind was flooded with the sensations it experienced. He could feel the merchant's movement, hear the faint chatter from the people around, and see the general layout of the area.
**What do you see?** Karma silently asked the Tyrant.
A series of **images** and **impressions** began to fill his mind. He could sense the merchant's every word as if he were there, observing from a distance. The miniature Tyrant had approached undetected, its tiny body allowing it to avoid attention from the bustling crowd. It was using the silent communication ability that Karma had unlocked, sending him valuable intel.
The merchant was busy negotiating with a customer, talking about the prices of exotic items. Nothing seemed unusual, but Karma had learned long ago that even small details could mean a great deal in a tournament. He needed to get the information that could give him an edge over his opponents.
**Return, Tyrant.**
The miniature Tyrant obeyed, scuttling back toward Karma with the same ease. Karma waited patiently as the tiny creature climbed through the window and back into the room. He could feel the connection growing stronger, the information streaming into his mind like a steady flow of data.
As the creature reappeared, Karma released his synchronization, allowing the link to fade. He looked down at the smaller Tyrant as it resumed its original size. He gave it a simple pat on the back, acknowledging its successful mission.
**"Well done."**
Now, it was time to test the Tyrant's other ability. Karma knew that both Tyrants had a second power—paralysis. He'd already seen its effect in battle, but he had yet to experiment with it under controlled conditions. He needed to know how long it could hold an opponent and whether it could be used strategically in the tournament.
He focused on the larger Tyrant, feeling the bond between them. He gave it a simple command.
**"Paralyze the target."**
The Tyrant's body seemed to pulse with energy for a moment, and Karma could feel the ripple of power emanating from the creature. A burst of energy shot through the air, and Karma could almost see the paralysis effect as it radiated outward.
Suddenly, Karma's vision shifted. He could feel the effects of the paralysis through the Tyrant's senses. The room seemed to blur as the larger Tyrant had found an object—a simple wooden chair—and paralyzed it. Karma could feel the chair stiffen, its legs locking in place as if a powerful invisible force had taken hold.
The power was real.
Karma's heart raced with excitement. If he could use this ability strategically in combat, it could be a game-changer. Imagine paralyzing his opponents in the tournament before they even had a chance to strike.
He pulled out a few parchment scrolls, scribbling notes. He could already picture how this would play out in battle—using his Tyrants to gather information and then paralyzing key targets with precision. It was a combination of tactics, speed, and power that could give him the upper hand in the tournament's later stages.
But the Tyrants' powers were not just limited to combat. Karma had just unlocked the potential for **long-distance communication** and **paralyzation**. If he could exploit these abilities to their fullest, he could manipulate the battlefield in ways that most adventurers would never expect.
Karma stood up and moved toward the window, gazing out at the city as the sun set on the horizon. He could feel the growing tension within him. The tournament was nearing, and the stakes were higher than ever.
**"We're ready,"** he whispered. **"Let's see how far we can go."**
And with that, Karma prepared himself for the battles ahead, knowing that his Tyrants were now fully equipped to help him rise to the top.
---
**Author's Notes:**
This chapter highlights the growing bond between Karma and his Tyrants, revealing their unique abilities. The introduction of **long-distance communication** adds a new layer of strategy to Karma's capabilities, making him a much more formidable force than his initial reputation as a tamer suggested.
The ability to **paralyze** also opens up possibilities for future encounters, giving Karma another powerful tool for both offense and defense. It sets the stage for more complex tactics as the tournament progresses.
Karma is becoming more and more resourceful, using both his magic and his tamed monsters in innovative ways. The tournament is approaching, and Karma's journey is about to take a major leap forward.