The First Battle, the Thorn Demon

This time, the Moonlight Fox did not resist as fiercely as before. Instead, it gazed at Kael with its beautiful eyes.

Soul Pets, much like humans, possess their own thoughts and emotions. In the gaze of this little creature, Kael could detect a hint of confusion and hesitation, as if it were contemplating whether to trust this human before it.

In truth, the Soul Contract carries a certain degree of restraint and compulsion. As the Moonlight Fox showed signs of uncertainty, the glow of the Soul Contract ring intensified!

The faint blue ring began to contract slowly, and as the fox's resistance waned, it started to imprint itself onto the creature's soul.

Gradually, the Moonlight Fox ceased its struggle, and the faint blue ring finally merged into its body, transforming into a soul mark that belonged solely to Kael, etched into the fox's very essence.

"Whimper..."

The Moonlight Fox let out a soft cry, its body radiating a faint blue light.

The light enveloped its form, and then its delicate figure slowly dissipated within the glow, vanishing from Kael's sight.

Soul Pet Masters possess their own Soul Pet Space, a realm where their Soul Pets reside. Once a Soul Contract is formed, the master can summon their Soul Pet from this space through sheer will.

Summoning and recalling a Soul Pet both consume soul power. Though his reserves were nearly depleted, Kael couldn't resist the urge to summon his first combat Soul Pet.

A faint blue aura slowly materialized, wrapping around a graceful and beautiful figure. Its fluffy tail swayed gently, and its luminous, moon-like eyes gazed at Kael.

The Moonlight Fox's expression had changed. Where there was once confusion and suspicion, there was now softness and docility.

Looking at his first captured Soul Pet, Kael burst into laughter, his emotions surging. This was a Soul Pet with limitless potential, capable of evolving from a medium rank to a high rank, or even beyond. This meant that Kael's fate had been completely altered by this creature!

"Whimper..."

The Moonlight Fox let out a soft cry, looking pitiful as it wriggled its adorable body, trying to free itself from the white silk that bound it.

Kael took out his knife and painstakingly cut through the resilient silk, then picked up the fluffy little creature, stroking its fur.

The Moonlight Fox seemed to enjoy the affection, nuzzling into Kael's embrace, showing signs of dependency, and even licking his cheek with its tiny tongue.

Seeing the young Moonlight Fox display such affection so quickly, Kael guessed that the creature was both young and inexperienced, relying solely on instinct and tenacity to survive in the perilous inner island. For a juvenile Soul Pet, this was no easy feat, and its journey must have been fraught with hardship.

"Little one, you must have been orphaned at a very young age. But don't worry, from now on, we'll rely on each other. You won't have to fight alone anymore... Speaking of which, let's give you a name." Kael grinned, a genuine smile of joy and relief that he hadn't felt in years.

In truth, Kael's situation was not unlike that of the little fox struggling to survive in the dangerous inner island. The difference was that Kael was no longer fighting alone.

"I remember a weapon called 'Moye,' gentle and beautiful in stillness, sharp and sinister in motion. It fits your personality perfectly, so I'll call you Moye. It suits you, you cunning little thing."

"Whimper~~" It seemed to dislike being called cunning, letting out a plaintive cry.

"Alright, 'wise' then..."

The little fox immediately extended its smooth tongue, licking Kael's cheek. Kael laughed heartily, finding this little creature not only brimming with potential but also incredibly amusing.

Having obtained the most satisfactory—or rather, completely unexpected—Soul Pet, Kael could now confidently leave the dangerous inner island.

Of course, on the way back, Kael couldn't afford to let his guard down. The young Moonlight Fox was still too weak to face the powerful Soul Pets, and Kael would have to take on the role of its protector.

Recalling a Soul Pet doesn't consume much soul power, but summoning it comes at a significant cost. Kael's soul power was also needed to sustain the White Night Demon, so he didn't return Moye to his Soul Pet Space. Instead, he carried it with him as he began his journey back.

Kael was meticulous. Upon entering the inner island, he had left markers along the way to ensure he wouldn't lose himself in the treacherous terrain.

Following the marks he had carved into the trees, Kael safely returned to the thorny area.

He remembered that within this thorny forest lurked a second-stage Thorn Demon, so he remained on high alert.

Just as Kael was about to climb through, little Moye suddenly wriggled free from his embrace and darted into the thorny forest.

After forming a Soul Contract, a master can sense their Soul Pet's location within a certain range. Kael, not wanting to risk losing his precious Moye, immediately followed.

Moye's small frame and agile movements allowed it to navigate the thorny forest with ease, avoiding any scratches or injuries.

Kael followed quickly, soon realizing that Moye was heading straight for the Thorn Demon that had attacked him earlier.

"Rustle, rustle, rustle..."

As Kael approached the spot, he heard the sound of the thorny forest swaying.

Cutting through the thorns, he saw the small, moonlit figure darting back and forth swiftly among the dense brambles. Behind it, a thumb-thick vine, like a serpent, pursued it. However, compared to Moye's nimble and agile movements, the vine's pursuit and attempts to ensnare seemed sluggish.

"Alright, this is our first step on the path to becoming strong!" Seeing Moye already engaged in battle with the Thorn Demon that had nearly killed him, Kael felt a surge of fighting spirit.

As a competent Soul Pet Master, his role was not to join the fray directly but to be the true strategist of the battle!