"I choose Infinite City!" Jason declared, excitement filling him.
Infinite City was breathtaking and majestic beyond anything he'd imagined. It seemed suspended between worlds, with a deep-blue sky overhead studded with dazzling stars that cast a serene glow over the landscape. Towering, pale-gray buildings stood under the starlit canopy, their architecture ancient yet remarkably intricate.
In a quiet room near the southern edge of the city, Jason materialized in a burst of white light. He glanced around cautiously, taking in the basic furnishings and a shimmering pillar in the center of the room.
'So this is where beastmasters gather…' he thought, feeling a sense of awe. The opportunity to unravel some of his biggest mysteries seemed closer than ever.
His attention quickly shifted to the rewards he'd earned from the trial. After all, an S-rank rating was no small feat. Although not the highest, he knew it was far above average. Most beastmasters would struggle just to survive and receive a lower rating, probably between E and F.
"It's all thanks to the Sacred Deer Pendant," he muttered, fingering the amulet with appreciation. It had been instrumental, but he was also realizing that Duke's combat potential would have limits unless they found ways to evolve and strengthen him.
He pulled out his newly received Identity Card, a white card that felt similar in texture to his black Contract Card. The Identity Card's interface appeared in his vision, listing his name and beast tamer serial number, along with options for Communication, Team, Backpack, and Teleport. A quick glance at his Backpack confirmed the rewards he had earned: 10,000 crystal coins and three items, including a skill card.
'Looks like crystal coins are the currency here,' he mused, noting how they appeared as a digital balance on his card. He scanned the room until he spotted a "swipe pad" on the pillar. Curious, he moved closer, and an optical screen flickered to life, displaying various secret realm options available to challenge.
Each listing had a name, difficulty rating, and entry cost:
- Spider Cave: Difficulty - Easy; Entry Cost - 200 coins
- Wild Boar Valley: Difficulty - Normal; Entry Cost - 500 coins
- Beast Jungle: Difficulty - Hard; Entry Cost - 700 coins
- Lake of Shadows: Difficulty - Abyss; Entry Cost - 1,000 coins
Jason let out a low whistle. "Some of these sound like a death sentence," he muttered, eyeing the Abyss-level realms warily. Even with Duke's recent upgrades, he knew he wasn't ready for those.
Scrolling further, he noticed one labeled Training Realm:
- Training Realm: Difficulty - Safe; Entry Cost - 1 coin/day
"This seems like the best starting point to strengthen our skills," he noted.
Leaving the list, Jason returned to the main screen of his Identity Card to inspect the rewards he'd earned. The Eye of Data, which had been temporary during the trial, was now a permanent part of his toolkit, although at a more basic level. Currently, it only allowed him to analyze basic information about himself, Duke, and low-rarity items.
The meteorite ore caught his attention next:
[Name]: Meteorite Ore
[Level]: Advanced
[Description]: A rare metal with energy-amplifying properties, ideal for crafting weapons or armor.
'Finally, a material I can actually use to make something useful!' Jason thought, remembering how ordinary weapons hadn't made it into the trial realm. He suspected that only items crafted from special resources like this meteorite ore would pass through the realms' barriers.
Then, there was the Grass Attribute Awakening Fruit:
[Name]: Grass Attribute Awakening Fruit
[Level]: Advanced
[Description]: Unlocks the latent Grass power in pet beasts with compatible qualities.
While the idea of elemental attributes intrigued him, he doubted Duke's compatibility with the Grass-type. Duke's love of veggies aside, there was little about his personality that screamed "nature." Jason made a mental note to learn more about identifying pet beast affinities in case he could trade the fruit for something more fitting.
Finally, Jason inspected his new skill card.
[Name]: Super Beast Mimicry
[Description]: This beastmaster skill allows the tamer to mimic their contracted beast's traits, temporarily gaining their physical abilities and instincts in battle.
Jason's heart sank. "Wait, I'm supposed to mimic 'Duke'?" He imagined himself mimicking Duke's overly playful antics or howling into the night and instantly cringed.
While the idea of mimicking a dragon or a tiger sounded epic—gaining the strength of a bear, the vision of an eagle, or the speed of a panther—imitating Duke seemed… ridiculous.
"This is ridiculous," he groaned, rubbing his temples. "Who came up with this skill?"
He clenched his fists in frustration. "After everything we went through in that trial, I refuse to spend my days running around barking like a husky. I need to find a workaround… or maybe even get a different contracted beast."
Still, he couldn't deny the skill's potential for combat. And if he could train with Duke to incorporate his strengths in a dignified way, he might just make it work.
"Alright, Duke," Jason sighed, glancing at his loyal companion. "Looks like we've got a lot to figure out."
"Woof!"