The Awakening of Aurora and Verdant Vale Hunt

Sirius's day at the academy wrapped up with his final lessons, Cooking and Survival Tactics. Although relatively simple compared to his combat training, these classes proved useful in unexpected ways. Knowing how to survive with limited resources or cook meals in the wilderness could mean the difference between life and death on a mission.

Once the day was over, he boarded a bus that would take him not home, but to Crimson Gardens. Today, he was going to check out a villa he had set his eyes on, one that he hoped would become a true home for his family. The ride passed through quieter streets as the bus wound into one of Blackhawk Shelter's most peaceful and luxurious districts. As Sirius looked out the window at the beautiful villas and manicured gardens, he couldn't help but feel a surge of excitement.

When he finally arrived, he found the villa was everything he had imagined and more. The expansive layout included three large bedrooms, each with its own bathroom, as well as two studies, perfect spaces for focused training and research. The open kitchen and living room were ideal for family gatherings, while a small garden stretched out in the backyard, complete with a modest pool that shimmered in the fading light. There was even enough parking space for a couple of vehicles. Sirius felt his heart swell with pride—this was a place where his family could truly thrive.

With confidence, he transferred the two hundred thousand credits for the villa. Next, he walked into a nearby dealership, where a sleek black Mercedes 4-seater sedan caught his eye. It was modern and stylish, a vehicle that matched his aspirations, and within minutes, he had completed the transaction for forty thousand credits.

The drive back was a surreal experience. As he parked outside his old apartment and honked, his mother and sister stepped out with expressions of disbelief. He didn't say much; he just opened the doors, and they climbed inside, still looking puzzled.

"Where are we going?" his sister, Laura, asked, her curiosity overtaking her bewilderment.

"You'll see," Sirius said with a mysterious grin.

Their expressions changed from curiosity to amazement as he drove them through Crimson Gardens, finally stopping in front of their new home. Laura's mouth fell open as she took in the sight, and as soon as he unlocked the front door, she dashed through the house, running from room to room. She soon claimed a bedroom as her own, her laughter filling the halls.

His mother, Elise, walked more slowly, her gaze drifting over every detail, her eyes shining with pride and gratitude. She finally paused in front of Sirius, resting a hand on his shoulder, her expression soft and warm.

"I never thought we'd see a day like this," she said, her voice full of emotion.

Sirius simply smiled, feeling a sense of fulfillment he had rarely experienced before.

Later that evening, once everyone had settled in, Sirius slipped into one of the studies, the villa quiet around him. He retrieved the Arcane Star Art from his Void Storage and opened it, feeling a familiar tingle of anticipation. He had come far in understanding this mystic art, but he knew there was still much left to uncover. The next page displayed an image of nine legendary beasts, each drawn with extraordinary detail.

In the center was a powerful dragon, its scales glimmering with all the colors of the rainbow. Surrounding the dragon were a majestic phoenix, a fierce demon tiger, a holy unicorn, and a delicate butterfly, among others. Each of these creatures exuded an air of ancient strength and wisdom.

As he gazed at the illustration, he felt the world around him fade, his consciousness pulled into another realm. He was floating in midair, surrounded by a landscape so beautiful it could only be described as paradise. The sky was filled with stars, and the land below was a tapestry of shimmering fields and rivers of light. Before him stood hundreds of beasts, their forms as awe-inspiring as they were powerful. At the forefront was the dragon, its scales shining with a prismatic glow.

The dragon's voice boomed through the air, rich and resonant. "I am Alexander, the Holy Empyrean Dragon, King of Dragons and leader of the Nine Divine Mystic Spirit Beasts. Welcome, young descendant of the Star God. We have waited for one worthy to inherit our legacy."

Sirius felt a thrill run through him as Alexander continued, "Today, we offer you our descendants, noble creatures who shall stand by your side and share in your destiny."

As the vision faded, he returned to the study, gasping slightly from the intensity of the experience. His body felt charged with a new energy, warm and pulsing, and a notification appeared in his Awakening Panel.

Beast Summoning (S)

A powerful talent had been unlocked. Sirius focused on it, and in an instant, his consciousness shifted to an ethereal landscape. In the center of this space lay dozens of eggs, each one glowing with a distinct aura. One egg began to crack, and from it emerged a tiny caterpillar, its eyes round and bright. It crawled toward Sirius, and he knelt down, extending a finger toward the creature.

The caterpillar bit his fingertip, drawing a single drop of blood. Its body shimmered, transforming before his eyes into a magnificent butterfly with vibrant, iridescent wings. Returning to his study, he saw that his Awakening Panel had updated once again.

Beast Summoning (S)

Contracted Beast: Bright Goddess Spirit Butterfly

Skill: Spirit Magic

With a thought, Sirius summoned the butterfly, which he had decided to name Aurora. The beautiful creature appeared from a small portal, flitting gracefully around the room before perching on his shoulder. Its wings pulsed with energy, and from the ethereal glow, seven tiny, humanoid spirits emerged, each with delicate butterfly wings and unique colors.

He instinctively knew their names and elemental affinities:

Zephlynn - Wind Spirit

Solara - Fire Spirit

Mosslyn - Earth Spirit

Frostine - Ice Spirit

Elariel - Light Spirit

Liriel - Water Spirit

Voltrixa - Thunder Spirit

Each spirit exuded an aura of incredible power, and Sirius sensed that they could unleash elemental magic capable of altering entire battlefields.

He decided it was time to see their true power.

Sirius informed his family that he was heading out to train and drove his new Mercedes to the Hunter Association checkpoint. Flashing his C-rank Hunter License, he was quickly granted permission to venture outside the shelter walls. He headed for Verdant Vale, a vast field of waist-high grass notorious for its predators, such as Giant Mantises and Grey Iron Fanged Wolves.

He parked his car at a safe distance and summoned his Iron Spider Armor and Thunder-striped Velociraptor Mount. Mounting his soulspirit beast mount, he rode into the dense grass, Aurora flying beside him, her wings leaving a trail of glittering dust. He gave his first command.

"Aurora, let's see what you can do."

The butterfly's wings beat rapidly, and with each flap, Wind Blades sliced through the tall grass, leaving trails of severed stalks in their wake. Suddenly, a Giant Mantis, startled by the sudden movement, sprang out from the grass, its scythe-like arms raised high.

Aurora's seven spirit fairies reacted instantly. Solara unleashed a torrent of Fireballs, each one exploding in bursts of flame that scorched the mantis's exoskeleton, causing it to shriek in agony. Voltrixa followed up with Lightning Arcs that crackled through the air, striking the creature and rendering it helpless as electric shocks coursed through its body.

The mantis collapsed in a smoking heap, but the battle was far from over. Several Grey Iron Fanged Wolves emerged from the grass, their eyes glowing with predatory intent. They circled Sirius and his spirits, their fangs bared.

Sirius felt a surge of adrenaline as he assessed the situation. He commanded Mosslyn, the Earth Spirit, to create defensive barriers. With a flick of her tiny hand, Golems made of rock and soil rose from the ground, each one nearly as tall as Sirius's chest. The golems advanced, acting as a first line of defense.

The wolves snarled and lunged at the golems, their iron fangs clashing against stone, but Frostine had other plans. She raised her hands, summoning Ice Spikes that shot forward, freezing the wolves' legs to the ground. Immobilized, the wolves howled in frustration, their movements hindered by the thick ice.

Sirius seized the opportunity to charge forward with his Thunder-striped Velociraptor, raising his hand to summon Thunderbolts. With a powerful motion, he hurled the lightning-spears at the immobilized wolves, each strike followed by an explosion of sparks. The wolves fell, one by one, reduced to smoking carcasses.

Suddenly, a large shadow loomed over him as a particularly massive Iron Fanged Alpha Wolf burst from the grass, its body larger and its fangs gleaming ominously. It roared and leapt toward Sirius, who barely had time to react.

He called on Elariel, the Light Spirit, who created a blinding flash that momentarily stunned the beast. Sirius followed up with Aurora's ultimate skill: Light Bullets. With pinpoint accuracy, dozens of tiny orbs shot toward the alpha, striking it in rapid succession. The wolf howled in pain, staggering back.

But the beast was resilient. It shook off the assault, its eyes glowing with rage as it lunged forward once more. Sirius, realizing that brute force alone wouldn't be enough, combined his efforts with Liriel, the Water Spirit. She summoned a Torrent of Water that slammed into the alpha wolf, knocking it off its feet.

Seeing his chance, Sirius called on Voltrixa once more. With a powerful gesture, she summoned a bolt of lightning that struck the alpha wolf square in the chest, sending shockwaves through its body. The alpha let out a final, pained howl before collapsing in defeat.

Breathing heavily, Sirius took in the aftermath. The field was littered with the remains of beasts, and the captured ones he had intended to bring back were safely contained in steel cages, courtesy of Mosslyn's golems.

After storing the corpses in his Void Storage, he gathered his spirits and led the golems carrying the caged wolves back to his car. It was an unusual procession—Sirius driving a sleek Mercedes with a radiant butterfly and elemental fairies hovering nearby, and a line of golems trailing behind, each carrying a caged beast.

Returning to the Hunter Association, Sirius unloaded the live and dead beasts, catching the staff off guard with the sheer volume of his haul. The receptionist's eyes widened in shock as she assessed the towering pile of beast carcasses and the caged predators.

"How did you…manage all this?" she asked, still bewildered.

Sirius simply smiled. "A little help from some friends."

After assessing his haul, he received 650,000 credits for the beast corpses and another 500,000 credits for the live beasts, totaling more than he had ever made in a single expedition. Feeling satisfied, he left the Association and made a few additional purchases. He bought a rugged Jeep and a small truck for future excursions and invested in skill books on Swordsmanship, Archery, and Spearmanship—classic martial techniques to complement the mystical arts of his Arcane Star Art.

By the time he returned to the villa, night had fallen. He parked his new vehicles in the driveway and carried his purchases inside. After a hearty dinner with his family, he retreated to his study and opened the skill books, immersing himself in new techniques and strategies for combat.

As he read, he felt a sense of fulfillment. Every day, he was growing stronger, closer to achieving his goals and protecting his family. He looked out the window at the moonlit garden, feeling the weight of his journey ahead. This was just the beginning, and he was ready to face whatever challenges awaited him.