Chapter 6: The Power of Synchronization
The first light of dawn crept through the windows of the Adventurer's Guild, casting soft rays on Karma's sleeping face. He stirred, slowly sitting up from the bench where he'd spent another night, though this time it didn't bother him. His mind was focused on a singular task—the **Intermediate Tamer's Guide** he had finally earned after days of effort. With Shiro, his loyal monster rabbit, nestled beside him and Kuro, the grey fox cub, curled up near his feet, Karma felt the day held promise.
With a yawn, Karma stretched, carefully retrieving the book from his pack. The leather-bound cover felt reassuring in his hands, the weight of knowledge within making his heart race with anticipation.
"All right," he muttered, glancing at Shiro and Kuro. "Let's see what new tricks we can learn."
He flipped open the guide, its pages thick with spells, techniques, and advice for tamers looking to advance their abilities. He skimmed through several sections—some discussing higher-level taming techniques, others outlining monster biology—but eventually, he found the chapter on **skills**.
"Here we go," he said to himself, eyes narrowing as he focused. "Let's see what's useful."
---
**Skill 1: Tamed Monster Miniaturization**
The first skill that caught his eye was called **Tamed Monster Miniaturization**. The description explained that tamers could reduce the size of their tamed monsters at will, making it easier for them to be carried or even hidden in places where monsters weren't allowed—like inns. Karma's heart jumped with excitement. This skill was exactly what he needed.
"No more sleeping on benches," Karma muttered, glancing at Shiro, who was now lazily cleaning its horn. "This is perfect."
He read further, learning that the spell required the caster to have a deep bond with the monster they were miniaturizing. Given how close he was with Shiro, Karma knew he would be able to meet the spell's requirements.
**Skill 2: Monster Synchronization**
Karma's eyes widened as he moved to the next skill: **Monster Synchronization**. This was a technique that allowed a tamer to fully synchronize with their monster companion, not only borrowing their abilities but enhancing them to an extraordinary degree. It would make any borrowed skill or feature 100 times stronger, and, for the duration of the spell, the tamer would physically take on aspects of their tamed monster—like ears, claws, or even heightened senses.
"This… this could make me unstoppable," Karma whispered. Synchronizing with Shiro would give him unmatched agility, enhanced hearing, and maybe even more. His mind raced with possibilities. If he could synchronize with Kuro once the cub grew stronger, the potential would be limitless.
---
**Learning the Skills**
Karma took a deep breath, reading over the instructions to learn both skills. According to the guide, in order to unlock **Miniaturization** and **Synchronization**, he had to fulfill a few learning conditions: first, he had to meditate with his tamed monsters to deepen their bond even further; second, he needed to practice the skill at least once with intent to master it.
"Okay, looks like I need to do some meditation." Karma chuckled, setting the guide aside and settling into a comfortable position on the floor. Shiro hopped closer, sensing Karma's intent, and Kuro, still a bit tired, curled up at his feet.
Karma closed his eyes, breathing deeply as he let the calm wash over him. He visualized the connection between himself and his monsters, feeling the unique bond that had formed between them. Shiro's presence was light and energetic, like a spring breeze, while Kuro's was more grounded, though still tinged with curiosity and loyalty. As Karma focused on these feelings, the world around him seemed to blur, his mind syncing with the energies of his companions.
Minutes passed in peaceful silence, and then, Karma felt a surge of warmth—a sign that his bond had strengthened. He opened his eyes, smiling as Shiro and Kuro gazed at him with trust and understanding. The bond was now strong enough.
He glanced at the guide again, re-reading the spell incantations for **Miniaturization**. It was time to try it out.
Standing up, Karma raised his hand over Shiro, muttering the words he had learned from the guide. As his voice grew more confident, a soft glow enveloped the monster rabbit. Shiro blinked but remained calm, trusting Karma completely. The light around Shiro pulsed once, and then the rabbit began to shrink.
Within seconds, Shiro had been reduced to the size of a small stuffed animal, barely bigger than Karma's palm. The little rabbit blinked up at him with its now comically tiny crimson eyes, its horn still sharp but much smaller.
Karma couldn't help but laugh. "It worked! Shiro, you're adorable!"
He scooped the miniaturized rabbit into his hands, marveling at how light and portable the creature had become. Shiro wiggled its nose, seemingly unbothered by the change, hopping into Karma's pocket and curling up.
"This will definitely solve my inn problem," Karma said, grinning. "Now for the real challenge: **Synchronization**."
---
**Monster Synchronization Test**
Karma steadied himself, placing Shiro gently on the floor. His mind raced as he thought about the potential this new skill could unlock. Enhancing his abilities a hundredfold could change everything for him, turning him from a weak adventurer into someone truly formidable.
He raised his hand again, this time focusing on the synchronization spell. The incantation was longer and more complex than **Miniaturization**, but as he spoke the words, he felt a strange connection forming between himself and Shiro, deeper than anything he had felt before. His body tingled, and suddenly, he felt his senses expanding.
A surge of energy rushed through him. His ears elongated, shifting to match Shiro's soft, pointed rabbit ears, and his vision sharpened as his eyes took on a crimson hue, mirroring Shiro's own. His hearing became incredibly sharp—he could hear the faintest rustle of leaves outside the guild, the soft breathing of Maria at her desk, even the distant clattering of dishes from a nearby inn.
Karma flexed his legs and was nearly knocked off balance by the sheer power coursing through them. His agility and jumping ability had multiplied to absurd levels. He crouched down and, with barely any effort, leaped to the ceiling, landing lightly on a support beam.
"This... this is amazing!" Karma exclaimed, adrenaline pumping through his veins. His enhanced rabbit ears twitched, picking up every small sound around him, and his legs felt powerful, as though he could leap from one rooftop to another with ease.
Shiro hopped in place, excitedly mimicking Karma's movements.
"This is going to change everything," Karma said, grinning widely. His synchronization with Shiro wasn't just powerful—it was a game changer. He could borrow not only abilities but also features from his monsters, giving him an edge in almost any situation.
Karma jumped down gracefully, landing on the floor without making a sound. He patted Shiro on the head. "Thanks, buddy. You've made me stronger than I ever imagined."
---
**Back to the Inn**
With his newfound abilities, Karma felt more confident than ever. After successfully learning and practicing the skills, he decided to head to the **Stardust Inn**, the place that had rejected him and Shiro just days ago.
However, this time, Karma had a plan. He activated **Tamed Monster Miniaturization**, shrinking Shiro down and placing the tiny rabbit in his pocket. The inn wouldn't even know he had a monster with him. And if trouble arose, he could always revert Shiro to his full size—or synchronize for a quick getaway.
As he approached the inn, the wooden sign above the entrance creaked in the wind, the words "**Stardust Inn**" painted in bold, faded letters. The same receptionist, **Clara**, stood behind the counter. As Karma stepped up to the desk, she gave him a weary look.
"Back again, huh?" she asked, not recognizing the tiny Shiro concealed in Karma's pocket. "Here to stay this time?"
Karma smiled confidently. "That's right. One night, please."
Clara eyed him but said nothing more, quickly processing his request. She handed him a key, and Karma couldn't help but grin as he took it.
Finally, after so long, he had a place to stay—a real room, with a bed.
He entered his room, placing Shiro gently on the bed and allowing him to return to full size. "Looks like we've finally made it, buddy."
Shiro gave a satisfied "ppik," hopping in place before curling up on the blanket. Kuro, too, padded into the room, finding a cozy corner.
Karma sat on the edge of the bed, looking at his two companions with a deep sense of satisfaction. With his new skills, he had overcome a major obstacle. The road ahead still held many challenges, but for the first time, Karma felt truly prepared to face them.
Tomorrow, a new journey awaited, and this time, he would be ready.