Prove You're Worthy!

Lan Tian moved with lethal grace through the outer dungeon, his strikes precise, his focus unwavering. From the shadows, a voice called out, filled with confusion.

"Aahhh... Why must we kill monsters that are like us?"

Without breaking his rhythm, Lan Tian smirked. "You think all monsters are as harmless as your familiars? Think again. These creatures will slaughter their own kind if it benefits them." He shot a glance toward the source of the voice. "And trust me, no matter how many times I explain, you'll still be lost."

A voice retorted sharply, "Who are you calling an idiot?"

Lan Tian's smirk widened. "You. Who else?"

Lan Tian used his telekinesis to grab all the spirit stones from the fallen monsters, making them float in front of him.

Sneaky, watching from the shadows, suddenly jumped out, wide-eyed in shock. "Huh… That's my telekinesis! How are you using it like that?"

Lan Tian smirked. "It's part of my Beastmaster skills. As a Beastmaster, I can use my contracted beasts' abilities. So, it's mine now."

Sneaky, still stunned, stammered, "But I know telekinesis isn't this strong! How are you using it like this?"

Lan Tian grinned. "Maybe because I'm not an idiot like you."

Sneaky, now flustered, shouted, "Who said it's your telekinesis? It's my power!"

Lan Tian casually waved at the floating spirit stones. "Well, it's mine now… along with these..

Lan Tian smirked, holding up the floating spirit stones. "Now, eat these."

Sneaky froze, looking at the stones in horror. "Wait, what? Eat spirit stones? But... I can't eat stones!"

Lan Tian raised an eyebrow, his voice dripping with mischief. "Oh, you have to. Because I'm your master, and I'm ordering you."

Sneaky shook his head, backing away. "No way! I'm not eating stones. That's ridiculous!"

Lan Tian's smile faded, and his eyes narrowed with a cold gleam. With a flick of his hand, he used his Beastmaster authority. The air around Sneaky shifted, as if the very dungeon walls were closing in.

"Oh, you'll eat them," Lan Tian said, his tone dark and commanding. "Because as your master, I can make you do anything."

Sneaky's eyes widened in panic as the power of Lan Tian's authority pressed down on him like a weight. "Wait, no! You can't—!"

Lan Tian's smirk returned, more dangerous this time. "Watch me."

Sneaky, under the crushing weight of Lan Tian's Beastmaster authority, reluctantly opened his mouth and ate the spirit stones one by one. His face twisted in disgust, but there was no escaping his master's command.

Finally, after swallowing the last one, a system notification popped up in front of him:

DING!

Congratulations! You have leveled up to 1-5...

Sneaky blinked, staring at the message in disbelief. "What the…? I leveled up just from eating those low-level spirit stones?!"

Lan Tian's smile grew wider as he watched the whole thing unfold. Ha… Ha, this is fun. His thoughts danced with amusement. If eating these low-level spirit stones can boost him to level 5... just imagine what would happen if he ate higher-level stones. I'll be unstoppable!

THAN!

Lan Tian grabbed Sneaky by the tail, lifting him like a sack of potatoes. A devilish grin spread across his face.

"It's time for your initiation."

Sneaky's eyes widened in sheer horror. "W-Wait! Let's talk about thi—"

Too late.

Lan Tian yeeted him straight at the massive, two-headed, fire-breathing serpent.

Sneaky screamed all the way through the air. "YOU BASTAAAARRRD—"

THUD!

He smacked into the ground face-first. A second later, his tail twitched.

The giant serpent loomed over him, its twin heads glaring down, steam rising from their nostrils.

Sneaky weakly lifted his head, his voice shaking. "H-Hey, big guys. W-We're all monsters here, r-right? Maybe we can, uh, unionize?"

The boss monster let out a low growl.

From a safe distance, Lan Tian crossed his arms and smirked. "Sneaky, if you want to be my pet, prove you're worthy."

Sneaky snapped his head around, rage replacing his fear. "WHO SAID I WANTED TO BE YOUR PET?!"

Lan Tian shrugged. "Oh, my bad. I decided for you."

Sneaky's jaw dropped. "You BASTARD! That's not how this works!"

Lan Tian pointed at the serpent. "Go on, pet. Show me what you've got."

Sneaky turned back to the monster, which was now drooling lava-like saliva.

His whole body shook. "I... I got this. I just have to... use my best skill!"

He squeezed his eyes shut, focusing as hard as he could. His weak telekinesis activated. A tiny rock lifted off the ground... wobbling... shaking...

And then it floated an entire three inches forward before dropping with a pathetic plop.

The serpent blinked.

Lan Tian sighed. "That was sad."

Sneaky opened one eye. "Did it work?"

The serpent roared.

Sneaky shrieked. "NOPE! IT DIDN'T WORK!"

In desperation, he turned to his second-best skill—poison! His tail twitched, releasing a few tiny droplets of venom onto the ground.

They sizzled slightly.

Lan Tian squinted. "That's it?"

Sneaky gulped. "Um. It works better if they... you know... lick it."

Lan Tian pinched the bridge of his nose. "I am so disappointed right now."

The serpent, now completely unimpressed, swiped at Sneaky with its tail.

WHACK!

Sneaky was launched through the air, flipping three times before landing in a twitching heap at Lan Tian's feet.

Lan Tian peered down at him, shaking his head. "So... worthy, huh?"

Sneaky, flat on the ground, weakly raised a trembling claw. "I hate you... so much."

The serpent let out a deafening roar and lunged at Sneaky for the kill.

Sneaky squeezed his eyes shut. "I REGRET EVERYTHING—"

But before the monster could land a hit, an invisible force slammed into it, knocking it back several meters. The ground cracked from the impact.

Sneaky cautiously opened one eye.

Lan Tian stood in front of him, his hand raised lazily. His Beastmaster's Authority surrounded him like an invisible pressure. His voice was calm, almost amused.

"Hah… I guess I should help my pet survive."

The serpent hissed, its heads shaking off the shock.

Lan Tian smirked. "Alright then… let's have some fun."

It's gonna be tough to defeat this monster alone without Uncle Shin... but I can gain a lot of experience by killing it.

Lan Tian cracked his knuckles, then reached behind him, gripping the hilt of his sword. A smirk tugged at his lips as he slowly unsheathed it, the blade gleaming under the dungeon's dim light.

The serpent roared, shaking the ground beneath his feet.

Lan Tian's eyes burned with excitement. "Come on, then… Let's see who survives.