471,478

Kain and Darius exchanged contact information, the tension between them easing slightly as they solidified their agreement. Darius was still wary, but the glimmer of hope in his eyes was unmistakable.

Kain, on the other hand, was already thinking ahead. He had a new ally, one who seems quite capable and may even be able to take on the responsibility of helping Kain form this group loyal to him.

But he also had a problem: where to base his growing network of secret subordinates.

His home was out of the question—his family's safety was paramount, and he couldn't risk exposing them to the dangers of his secretive activities.

His business office was equally unsuitable; it was too public, too visible. He needed a place that was discreet, secure, and unassuming.

After a quick search, Kain found what he was looking for: a three-story building in a less populated area of the city was available. Since the area of the city didn't have much foot-traffic, it appears as though most of the prior tenants didn't renew the lease and chose to move to the core of the city.

The exterior was plain, almost forgettable, blending seamlessly with the surrounding structures. It was the kind of place no one would look twice at, which made it perfect for Kain's needs. He rented the entire building without hesitation, paying in cash to avoid leaving a paper trail and also signed the paperwork under a false identity.

'Making some less savoury connections as a planner has definitely come in handy…' Kain thought while looking at the thick stack of official-looking documents that had his face on them but a completely different name.

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The interior of the building was spacious, with enough room for meetings, training, and even storage for any equipment or resources he might need. It wasn't luxurious, but it was functional, and that was all Kain cared about.

Over the next few days, Kain set up the building to suit his needs. He installed advanced security measures—locks, alarms, traps, surveillance and more. However, all of these measures were undetectable visually and the building looked as unsecure as it did previously. The last thing he wanted was to draw attention to the place.

Once everything was in order, he sent a message to Darius, instructing him to meet at the new location.

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Darius arrived at the building later that evening, his expression a mix of curiosity and apprehension. He hesitated at the door, glancing around as if expecting a trap.

Kain, watching from a window on the second floor, smirked. He had expected as much. Darius was a cautious man, and rightly so. Kain had no intention of betraying him, but he understood the need for caution.

"Come in," Kain called out, his voice echoing through the empty building. "We have a lot to discuss."

Darius stepped inside, his eyes scanning the room. The interior was sparse, with only a few chairs and a table set up in the center. Kain stood by the table, a stack of papers in front of him. Darius approached slowly, his guard still up.

"What's all this?" Darius asked, gesturing to the papers.

"A contract," Kain replied, sliding the stack toward him. "Before we proceed, there are a few things we need to agree on."

Darius picked up the top sheet, his eyes narrowing as he read through the clauses. The contract was detailed, outlining terms of secrecy, loyalty, and the conditions under which Kain would grant Darius the power to become a beast-tamer. There were also strict prohibitions against revealing the details of the procedure to anyone, as well as a clause requiring Darius to follow Kain's orders without question.

Kain, as an ordinary person, couldn't feel anything special in the contract. However, as a beast-tamer, Kain could feel the strong pulse of spiritual power the paper emitted. Once Darius signed the contract, he wouldn't be able to break it unless he was willing to forfeit his life.

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"This is… thorough," Darius said, his tone wary. "You're asking for a lot of trust."

"And I'm offering a lot in return," Kain countered. "You want power? This is how you get it. I'm not running a charity. I need to know you're committed. I can't have you running off like a reckless idiot, risking everything I'm building."

Darius hesitated, his eyes flicking back to the contract. He read through it again, more slowly this time, weighing each clause carefully. Finally, he looked up at Kain. "And if I refuse?"

Kain shrugged. "Then we part ways. You go back to your life, and I go back to mine. But you'll never get another chance like this."

Darius's jaw tightened. He knew Kain was right. This was his best—and possibly only—shot at gaining the power he needed to take down Alaric. After a long moment, he nodded. "Alright. I'll sign."

Kain handed him a pen, and Darius scrawled his name at the bottom of the contract. As soon as the ink dried, Kain felt a sense of satisfaction. He had his first true subordinate linked to Pangea. After all, the director and Gabriel were now family, while Ferrin could also be considered a friend and confidant to his family members. Kain wasn't exactly willing to send them on death missions.

However, Darius was someone bound to him by circumstance and a formal agreement. It wasn't perfect, but it was a start. In the future he hoped to make him loyal to himself form the bottom of his heart.

"Good," Kain said, taking the contract and tucking it away. "Now, let's get to work."

Kain led Darius to a smaller room on the second floor where a room resembling a sterile tattoo shop was waiting. There was an enchanted pen with several vials of ink of various colours arranged next to it, a plush black reclining chair, and a poster on the wall with an intricate circular array for Kain to use as a reference.

Darius followed Kain into the room, his expression still a little wary. However, with the contract already signed he wasn't afraid. He could deal with pain, and he was certain Kain wasn't trying to kill him—otherwise why set up this whole elaborate farce. "What exactly is this procedure?"

Kain didn't bother to explain in detail. "You'll see in a moment."

He gestured to the chair in the center of the room. "Sit down. The procedure will take some time, and it won't be pleasant. But if you're serious about this, you'll endure it."

Darius took a deep breath, then sat down in the chair.

He flinched slightly when the needle met his skin, but gritted his teeth and endured the pain.

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Kain wasn't having Darius suffer just because he was a sadist.

The first time this procedure was done on Ferrin, Bea completely dulled his senses and so he felt no pain.

Since Bea wasn't recovered for the director's and Gabriel's procedures, spiritual plants were used instead, but they weren't able to completely eliminate the sensations of pain.

However, Kain noted that the time both the director and Gabriel's soul fragments were able to persist in Pangea, and the quality of their contracts, were improved.

Gabriel's circumstances were unique due to the artificial core that had fused with him and made him have a much more dense and concentrated spiritual power. However, the director had no such boost. Moreover, due to his age, Kain had actually expected for the director to have a more difficult time than Ferrin with activating the array and have a weaker soul fragment. But that wasn't the case.

Therefore, Kain hypothesized that being able to withstand the pain caused by the array may have a tempering effect or make the individual more closely in tune with the array so that they'd benefit more from the procedure.

Darius, who Kain had no close emotional ties with and has already proven his resilience, was the perfect guinea pig.

This was the first time Kain was seeing the array being printed without any kind of anesthetic, and considering that Darius' bronze skin was gradually getting noticeably pale and droplets of sweat were beading all over his body, Kain was able to conclude that the pain caused without anesthesia was definitely much more painful than just getting a simple tattoo.

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Kain still had a third of the array left to complete, but it was getting difficult to draw the specific and intricate lines because Darius was shivering unconsciously while gritting his teeth to prevent from screaming.

'Maybe talking would help take his mind off of the pain. I'm also curious…'

"What does it feel like?" Kain asked, finally unable to resist. After all, Darius is the only one who has been able to fully feel the array being etched so far.

Darius's jaw clenched tighter, his teeth grinding as he tried to suppress the pain. His hands gripped the arms of the chair so hard that his knuckles turned white. For a moment, Kain thought he might not answer, but then Darius managed to choke out a response, his voice strained and hoarse.

"It's… like fire," Darius gasped, his words coming out in short, labored bursts. "But not just on the skin…it's like it's burning through my soul. It's unbearable."

Kain paused for a moment, his brow furrowing as he considered Darius's words. Kain had assumed the pain was primarily physical, but if it was affecting Darius's soul as well, that could explain why those who endured some of the pain previously without Bea's help seemed to benefit more from the procedure. Perhaps the pain wasn't just a side effect—it was part of the process, tempering the soul and making it more receptive to the array's power.

"Interesting," Kain murmured, more to himself than to Darius. He resumed drawing the array, his movements precise and deliberate. "Keep talking. Describe it in more detail."

Darius let out a low groan, his body trembling as Kain continued to etch the intricate lines of the array into his skin, but did as directed. He described every change in sensation that he felt, and talking actually seemed to help him through the pain.

Keeping him talking also helped Kain keep an eye on his condition. If it got so bad that he lost consciousness, he was prepared to stop the procedure and administer medical treatment immediately. After all, he couldn't have his latest subordinate, that he found with much effort, die in vain.

The fact that Darius was still conscious and coherent despite the agony he described was a testament to his strength and determination. Kain couldn't help but feel a flicker of respect for the man.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Kain stepped back, examining his work with a critical eye.

"It's done," Kain said, his voice filled with satisfaction. "The array is complete."

Darius let out a long, shuddering breath, his body slumping in the chair as the pain began to subside. His skin was pale, his clothes soaked with sweat, but there was a glimmer of something in his eyes—something fierce and unyielding. He had endured the pain, and now he was ready for what came next.

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"What… now?" Darius asked, his voice weak but determined.

"Now," Kain said, "we activate the array."

Kain began to explain the process, but before Kain could even finish his explanation, the array began to glow, the lines lighting up with a soft, light. Kain's eyes widened in surprise. He hadn't expected the array to activate so quickly. It took Ferrin and the director several minutes of concentration for the energy to flow into the array, but Darius had managed to do it almost instantly.

"Interesting," Kain murmured. Based on this speed of activation, Kain could already tell that enduring through the pain must come with some changes, but is it just activating the array faster? If so, the enduring the pain wasn't worth it.

Kain's curiosity was piqued, and he decided to investigate further. He closed his eyes, directing his mind inward to Pangea.

As the "god" of Pangea, Kain had a unique connection to the world and instantly pinpointed the location of Darius's soul fragment as it entered the planet.

The soul fragment was denser and more resilient than Kain had expected, far more so than Ferrin's or the director's. It was only slightly inferior to Gabriel's, which had been artificially boosted by the core that had fused with him.

But unlike Gabriel's soul fragment, which had been drawn in the direction of Aurem and his subordinates, Darius's soul fragment was heading in a different direction—toward the vast ocean that covered more than 70% of the planet's surface.

Kain followed curiously behind the fragment. The ocean was a mystery even to him. While he had explored parts of it, the sheer depth and vastness of the waters made it impossible to fully explore.

While there were many creatures on the single supercontinent of Pangea, Kain knew that the vast majority of Pangea's life forms resided in the ocean. Now, with Darius's soul fragment heading in that direction, Kain couldn't resist following it.

He focused his consciousness, tracking the soul fragment as it moved through the water. The ocean was teeming with life, from tiny, bioluminescent creatures to massive, serpentine beasts the size of houses.

The soul fragment moved swiftly, drawn by some unseen force, until it reached a deep trench in the ocean floor. Kain followed it down, his curiosity growing with every passing moment.

As the soul fragment descended into the trench, the water grew darker, the pressure increasing as the soul fragment delved deeper.

And then, Kain saw it.

Visit and read more novel to help us update chapter quickly. Thank you soThe creature was massive, its form barely visible in the darkness. It was unlike anything Kain had ever encountered, even in his wildest imagination.

Its body was a swirling mass of tentacles, each one thicker than the trunk of the largest tree on either Pangea or Earth.

The tentacles were covered in bioluminescent patterns that pulsed with a faint, otherworldly blue glow, casting an eerie light on the creature's surroundings. At the center of the tentacles was a massive, bulbous body.

Two enormous eyes, each the size of a small island, glowed with an almost neon green light. The creature's presence was overwhelming, its aura radiating a sense of ancient power and dominance.

Kain's mind raced as he tried to comprehend what he was seeing. This creature was not just powerful—it was on a completely different level. The pressure it exuded rivaled that of the four guardians Aurem created as his subordinates, and if anything, it might even be stronger than them. A creature like this… how had it remained hidden for so long? Kain couldn't help but think that this creature was the only being on Pangea that could truly threaten Aurem's existence.

Curious by the existence of such a powerful creature that had flown under his radar for so long, Kain looked at the description for the creature:

——————-

Nickname: N/A

Species: Primordial Kraken

The Primordial Kraken is an ancient, god-like sea creature that resides in the deepest trenches of Pangea's oceans. Its existence predates the arrival of nearly all living creatures on Pangea, evolving from a relatively simple and weak jellyfish to now being the undisputed ruler of the seas.

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Quality: Special

Spiritual Power Grade: ???

Skills:

X – Oceanic Supremacy: The Primordial Kraken exerts absolute control over the ocean. It can manipulate water pressure, currents, and even the spiritual energy within the sea to make all aquatic creatures helpless before it. This skill allows it to create massive whirlpools, tidal waves, and crushing pressure fields that can obliterate anything in its path. The Kraken's control over the ocean is so complete that it can even summon storms and tsunamis on the surface.

X – Tentacle of Terror: Each nearly indestructible tentacle can extend for miles and even breakthrough space to a location within the Kraken's line of sight, striking with precision and crushing power. The tentacles are also capable of absorbing spiritual energy from their prey, weakening enemies and strengthening the Kraken.

SSS – Crushing Depths: The Kraken can generate a localized field of extreme pressure, crushing anything within its radius. This skill is particularly effective against armored or heavily fortified enemies, as the pressure can penetrate even the strongest defenses. This skill can also be used to create barriers of pressurized water, trapping enemies in an inescapable prison.

SS – Bioluminescent Dominion: The Kraken's body is covered in bioluminescent patterns that can be used to disorient and confuse enemies. The light can shift in color and intensity, creating illusions and masking the Kraken's true position.

S – Regeneration of the Deep: The Kraken can rapidly heal itself by drawing spiritual energy from the surrounding water. This skill allows it to recover from even the most severe injuries, making it nearly impossible to defeat in its natural habitat. The Regeneration of the Deep skill also allows the Kraken to regenerate lost tentacles and other body parts in a matter of seconds.

.

.

.

———————–

Kain looked between the massive glowing creature that he first though resembled a squid or octopus, but looking at it closer and cross-referencing the system description…he realized that it kind of resembled a jellyfish as well…

'Could it be…?'

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He couldn't help but think back to the excitement he'd felt upon witnessing the first sign of life on the planet—a jellyfish.

It had been pitifully weak, without any signs of spiritual power, and shivered in fear when Kain had first caught it and lifted it from the sea.

As the first sign of life, like a proud parent and despite its weakness and seemingly low potential Kain had wanted to nurture it further. On a whim, he had fed it the Bloom of Ascension to make it transform from an ordinary jellyfish to a spiritual creature. Stay updated with My Virtual Library Empire

Afterwards, because it had been the only spiritual creature on the planet for quite a while, Kain would frequently feed it something beneficial whenever he visited the planet.

However, as more and more advanced organisms appeared, Kain's interest in it had faded.

Honestly, he'd completely forgotten about what was technically the first creature born purely from Pangea, considering that Aurem and the tree of life had been transported from Earth to here as an egg and seed, respectively.

'You've grown so much' Kain almost got misty-eyed, like a father who had been absent from his newborn for months, only to return and find their child had grown beyond recognition.

Thud

Darius's soul fragment approached the massive creature, but the fragment seemed to hit an invisible barrier, unable to get any closer. It hovered in the water, trembling as if trying to push through, but the barrier held firm. The creature's massive eyes shifted slightly, as if it had noticed the fragment, but it made no move to interact with it. Instead, it simply watched, its gaze cold and indifferent.

Eventually, the fragment was forced to give up.

Surrounding the massive creature were several smaller, but still incredibly powerful, beings. These creatures were clearly subordinates, their forms resembling smaller versions of the Kraken, but with distinct differences.

Some had more tentacles, others had jagged armored shells, and a few even had glowing crystals embedded in their bodies. Each one radiated a powerful aura, and Kain could tell that they were no ordinary spiritual creatures.

Darius's soul fragment, unable to reach the Kraken, shifted its focus to one of the subordinates. This one was slightly smaller than the others, its body covered in a shimmering, iridescent shell. The fragment approached it cautiously, and this time, there was no barrier. The subordinate creature seemed to sense the fragment's presence, its glowing eyes turning to face it. For a moment, the two simply stared at each other, the water around them still and silent.

Soon enough, the soul fragment merged with the subordinate creature, and in an instant, both Darius's soul and the fragment disappeared.

But before Kain could fully process what had happened, the Kraken's massive eyes opened fully, and the glow emitted from its body intensified.

The Kraken's gaze moved around, as if searching for something. Kain debated revealing himself, curious if it would still remember him. But before he could come to a decision, the creature's eyes closed once more, and the pressure in the water subsided. The massive being settled back into the seabed, its tentacles curling around its body as it returned to its slumber.

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Kain's consciousness snapped back to his body, his mind still reeling from the huge change in what he suspected was the little guy he'd once carefully nurtured.

Its progress left him with a strange mix of pride and awe.

But there was no time to dwell on that now. Darius was sitting upright in the chair, his chest heaving as the glowing array on his skin began to fade. His eyes were wide, his expression a mixture of shock, disbelief, and overwhelming emotion.

"Darius," Kain said, his voice calm but firm. "How do you feel?"

Darius didn't respond immediately. His hands trembled as he stared down at his right upper arm, where the array had been etched. His breathing was ragged, and his face was pale, but there was a glimmer of something in his eyes—something fierce and unyielding. He had endured the pain of the array, and now he was reaping the rewards.

"I… I can feel it," Darius finally managed to say, his voice hoarse and trembling. "So this is what having a contract feels like…."

Darius's hands clenched into fists, his knuckles turning white. His breathing began to steady, but the intensity in his eyes only grew. "I need to see it," he said, his voice low but filled with determination. "I need to see my contract."

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Kain hesitated for a moment, then nodded. Although the creature he'd contracted had been quite powerful and massive on Pangea, Kain assumed that it would once again be in a sealed state and not take up too much room.

Darius didn't respond. He simply closed his eyes, focusing on the bond that now connected him to his contract. Kain could feel the spiritual energy in the room shift as Darius reached out through the bond, calling forth his new companion.

Like Kain expected, it was a miniature version of the spiritual creature he had seen next to the Kraken in the depths of Pangea, but its size was drastically reduced, and its aura was far weaker. The creature's body was covered in a shimmering, iridescent shell, and its tentacles were thin and delicate, glowing faintly with a soft, blue light as it hovered a few feet off the ground. Though it was currently on land, it floated through the air as though it were still swimming in water.

Darius stared at the creature, his breath catching in his throat. For a moment, he was completely still, his eyes locked on the small, glowing being in front of him. Then, without warning, he dropped to his knees, his hands reaching out toward the creature. His expression was a mix of awe, reverence, and overwhelming emotion.

"It's… beautiful," Darius whispered, his voice trembling.

Kain had to admit that it did have a unique beauty due to its multi-coloured glow, but would hardly call its appearance worthy of invoking such strong emotions. Kain couldn't help giving Darius an odd look, wondering if his aesthetics were a little off or if he had any odd inclinations towards tentacles…

The creature floated closer to Darius, its tentacles gently brushing against his outstretched hands while emitting a resonant hum.

Kain watched silently, giving Darius the space he needed to process what was happening.

But he also knew that Darius needed to regain his composure quickly. The bond was just the beginning—there was still much work to be done.

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After a few minutes, Darius finally began to calm down. His breathing steadied, and the intensity in his eyes softened. He looked up at Kain, his expression a mix of gratitude and determination.

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"Thank you," Darius said, his voice steady now. "I… I will repay you for this."

Kain nodded his head. "The repayment can come later. Although you have a contract now, you are still extremely weak, you need to get familiar with your contract and wait for it to grow up. Until then, you are of no use to me, nor are you at all ready to avenge your family."

Darius' contract was originally a powerful creature and still has high-potential, but in its current state, it's sealed to match Darius' level and was only a weak red-grade spiritual creature right now. It'll grow far faster than most spiritual creatures but it would still take some time before he'd be strong enough to be of use to Kain.

Darius nodded, his expression serious. "I understand. What should I do first?"

Kain gestured toward the door. "In the basement of this building, I've set up advanced and durable training facilities. They're designed to withstand the power of spiritual creatures, even at higher levels. I recommend you start there. Spend time with your contract, get used to its abilities, and learn how to work together as a team."

Darius stood up, his movements steady now. He looked down at the small, glowing creature floating beside him with anticipation. Kain's proposal suited him. He was also eager to see the abilities of his very own spiritual creature—something he thought he'd never have.

Kain then added, "Also, I've converted the third floor of this building into several bedroom and living quarters. You're welcome to stay here as you grow accustomed to your new strength. It'll be easier for you to focus on your training without having to worry about other distractions."

Darius looked at Kain, his expression filled with gratitude. "Thank you, Kain. For everything."

Kain gave him a small smile. "You're welcome. Now go. Your journey is just beginning."

As Darius left the room, his new contract floating beside him, Kain couldn't help but feel a sense of satisfaction, especially after seeing the strong potential of Darius and his contract.

Kain had no doubt that he would achieve great things and may even be an important pillar for Kain's future plans.

But as Kain happily watched Darius disappear down the hallway, and get absorbed into the new world of beast-taming, a group of individuals were waiting anxiously outside of the building for any news, but had been completely thrown to the back of Darius' mind.

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Outside the unassuming three-story building, a group of five individuals huddled together in the shadows of a nearby alleyway.

Their eyes were glued to the building's entrance, their expressions a mix of anxiety, impatience, and fear.

"I'm telling you, he's dead," muttered a wiry man with a scruffy beard and a perpetual scowl. "It's been an entire day and this whole thing reeked of a trap from the start. Some random beast-tamer offers him power? Yeah, right. They probably lured him in, chopped him up, and fed him to their contracts. Classic beast-tamer move."

Like Darius, this ragtag crew was made up of ordinary people who had spent years honing their skills and plotting revenge against the beast-tamers who had wronged them. Naturally, they all did not have the best impression of beast-tamers.

"Shut up, Jax," snapped a tall woman with sharp features and a no-nonsense demeanor. "The Boss isn't dead. He's too stubborn to die. Besides, if they wanted to kill him, they wouldn't have gone through all this trouble. They could have just ambushed him in the street. Moreover, from what I heard, this beast-tamer has quite unusual abilities, he could have killed him alone when they'd first met."

"Lira, you may be the group's strategist, but I think you're wrong on this one. Maybe they're torturing him," suggested a burly man with arms the size of tree trunks. "You know, trying to get information out of him. Like, 'Who sent you?' or 'Who else is in your little revenge squad?'"

"See! Musclehead agrees with me," Jax said, while pointing a finger at the burly Garret. "So now we may not only be waiting for a dead body, but a betrayed dead body. Fantastic."

"Will you two stop being so dramatic?" interjected a petite woman with fiery red hair and a mischievous grin. "Darius is fine. Probably. Maybe. Okay, I don't know, but sitting here speculating isn't helping. We need a plan."

"A plan?" Jax scoffed. "What kind of plan, Miya? Storm the building? We're not exactly equipped to take on a beast-tamer, let alone whoever else is inside that place. Remember what happened last time we tried to ambush one? Garret got thrown through a wall." Experience new stories on My Virtual Library Empire

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"That was one time!" Garret protested, his face turning red. "I was caught off guard!"

"Guys, focus," Lira said, pinching the bridge of her nose. As the group's resident strategist, in the absence of Darius, her words held the most weight. "We're not storming anything. We're not doing anything reckless. We're going to wait, watch, and gather information. That's it."

"Wait, watch, and gather information," Jax repeated mockingly. "Sounds thrilling. Can't wait to add that to my list of life achievements."

Miya smirked. "Well, if you're bored, we could always play a game. How about 'Guess What Horrible Thing Happened to Darius'?"

"I'm in," Garret said immediately. "I say he got experimented on and turned into a spiritual creature. Like, he's someone's pet now. A really buff, angry pet."

"I say he's being brainwashed," Jax said. "You know, like those creepy cults where they make you chant and drink weird elixirs. Next time we see him, he'll be wearing a robe and trying to convert us."

"I say he's fine," Miya said, crossing her arms. "He's probably just… negotiating. Or something. Yeah, negotiating."

"Negotiating what?" Jax asked, raising an eyebrow. "The terms of his own enslavement?"

"Details, details," Miya said with a wave of her hand.

The group fell silent for a moment, their eyes drifting back to the building. Despite their banter, the tension was palpable. They had been through a lot together—years of training, planning, and surviving in a world that favored beast-tamers over ordinary people like them.

Darius was more than just their leader; he was their family. And now, he was in danger, and there was nothing they could do about it.

"You know," Garret said after a long pause, "if something has happened to him, we're kind of screwed. I mean, who's going to lead us? Jax?"

"Oh, hell no," Jax said, holding up his hands. "I'm not leader material. I'm more of a…funny group mood reliever. The class clown!"

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"Lira, then," Garret said, turning to the tall woman.

Lira shook her head. "I'm not cut out for leadership. I'm better at telling people what to do, not inspiring them to do it."

"Miya?" Garret asked, looking at the redhead.

Miya grinned. "I'd be a great leader. If anything I feel as though the entire Empire should be run by me. My first order of business would be to declare a national holiday in my honor. And maybe ban pants. They're overrated."

"See?" Garret said, throwing up his hands. "We're doomed."

"Relax," Lira said, though her voice lacked its usual confidence. "Darius is fine. He has to be."

As if on cue, the door to the building creaked open, and a figure stepped out. The group froze, their eyes widening as they recognized the man. It was Darius. He looked… different. His usual scowl was gone, replaced by an expression of quiet determination. And floating beside him was something that made their jaws drop—a small, glowing creature with shimmering tentacles and an otherworldly aura.

"Is that… a spiritual creature?" Miya whispered, her voice filled with awe.

"You mean…it was true?" Lira whispered, voice half doubt and half anticipation.

"No way," Jax said, shaking his head. "No freaking way."

Darius paused for a moment, his eyes scanning the street. Then, as if sensing their presence, he turned and looked directly at the alleyway where they were hiding. For a moment, no one moved. Then, with a small smile, Darius gestured for them to come closer.

"Well," Lira said, letting out a breath she didn't realize she'd been holding. "I guess we're about to find out what happened."

The group exchanged nervous glances before stepping out of the shadows and making their way toward their Boss. As they approached, Darius's smile widened, and the glowing creature beside him let out a soft, resonant hum.

"Guys," Darius said, his voice filled with a mix of pride and excitement, "meet my new partner. And trust me… you're not going to believe what just happened."

The group gathered around Darius, their eyes darting between him and the glowing creature floating beside him. The tension that had been building for hours finally broke, replaced by a mix of curiosity, disbelief, and a healthy dose of skepticism.

Visit and read more novel to help us update chapter quickly. Thank you soOf course, Darius couldn't go into too much detail due to the contract he'd made with Kain. But, before he'd signed the contract, he'd also told these guys about some of the vague promises made by Kain.

Not to mention that before leaving the building, upon realizing how great of an opportunity this was, he'd discussed with Kain about also allowing his group to undergo the procedure.

Kain wasn't too surprised that Darius had a group he operated with, after all evading Kain while keeping an eye on him as he had previously done, would have been difficult to achieve alone. Therefore, Kain had long guessed that he had some allies.

However, Kain couldn't just pick up any old friend of people he'd recruited—spots were limited. The organization he established was in its burgeoning stage now, but he hoped to establish a stable system of recruiting and filtering through individuals worthy recruitment.

Darius' partners would be the first ones that would go through these recruitment tests, which would consist of completing a mission for Kain that would showcase their potential. Of course though, Kain let Darius know that even if they completed the mission there was no guarantee that he would accept them all, or even one of them. In addition to potential and skill, Kain also paid attention to their loyalty.

Therefore, as Darius led his group into the building, he knew that his allies had probably already begun to be scrutinized by Kain surveilling the scene, but didn't clue them into that fact in case they lose this opportunity due to his interference.

The group followed, their eyes wide with curiosity and disbelief. The interior of the building was plain and unremarkable, but knowing that the entire course of their lives may change due to what was inside this building, they felt as though it was cloaked in a mysterious veil.

Once they were inside, Darius turned to face them, his expression serious but tinged with excitement. "Alright," he said, rolling up the sleeve of his shirt to reveal the intricate, glowing mark on his upper arm. The mark resembled a jellyfish, its tentacles swirling in a mesmerizing pattern. "This is what they gave me. It's similar to a bloodline mark. From what I understand, it's similar to how the southern tribes awaken dormant bloodlines. This mark is what connects me to my contract."

The group leaned in closer, their eyes fixed on the glowing mark. Miya reached out to touch it, but Darius swatted her hand away. "Don't poke it," he said, half-joking. "I don't know what'll happen if you mess with it." In actuality, the spot was just still quite tender, but he didn't want to reveal such a weakness in front of them.

"It's so… shiny," Miya said, her voice filled with awe. "Like a tattoo, but way cooler. Does it glow in the dark?"

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"I haven't checked," Darius admitted. "but maybe…."

Garret, the burly muscle of the group, squinted at the mark. "So, what, you just got this thing stamped on your arm, and now you're a beast-tamer? That's it?"

"Not exactly," Darius said. "There's more to it than that. The process was… intense. Painful, even. But it was worth it." He gestured to the glowing creature floating beside him. "This is my contract. It's still young, but it's got potential. And once it grows stronger, I don't think that bastard Alaric would be a match for me."

The group turned their attention to the creature, their curiosity piqued. It was a strange, otherworldly being—a cross between a jellyfish and a squid, with shimmering, translucent tentacles and a soft, bioluminescent glow. It hovered in the air, its movements graceful and fluid, as if it were swimming through water.

Miya was the first to reach out, poking one of the creature's tentacles. "It's squishy!" she exclaimed, her eyes lighting up with delight. "Like a really fancy stress ball."

The creature let out a soft, almost indignant hum, but it didn't pull away. It seemed to understand that these were Darius's friends and didn't react aggressively, even as the group began to crowd around it, poking and prodding at its gelatinous body.

"Careful," Darius warned, though he couldn't help but smile at their antics. "It's not a toy."

"But it's so cute!" Miya said, squeezing one of the tentacles gently. "Look at it! It's like a little glowing marshmallow."

"A marshmallow with tentacles," Jax muttered, though even he couldn't resist reaching out to touch it. "Weirdest thing I've ever seen."

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Lira, ever the strategist, was more reserved. She observed the creature with a critical eye, her mind already racing with possibilities. "If we can all become beast tamers," she began slowly, "then we would all have an actual chance against our targets."

Darius nodded. "Exactly. And that's why I brought you here. Kain—the guy who gave me this—said that you all could have the same opportunity. But there's a catch."

The group fell silent, their attention snapping back to Darius. Even Miya stopped poking the creature, her expression turning serious.

"What kind of catch?" Garret asked, his voice wary.

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"You'll have to complete a mission for him," Darius explained. "It's a test, to see if you're worthy of joining him. If you pass, you'll get the same mark I have, and you'll become beast-tamers. But if you want to take the mission, you'll have to sign a contract first. It's non-negotiable."

"A contract?" Jax said, raising an eyebrow. "What, like a blood oath or something?"

"Something like that," Darius said. "It's an enchanted contract. Once you sign it, you won't be able to talk about what happens here or the fact that you're being tested. If you break it, you will die…painfully."

The group exchanged glances, their expressions a mix of excitement and apprehension. Becoming a beast-tamer was a dream they had all shared but never thought possible. Now, the opportunity was right in front of them. But it came with risks.

Miya was the first to speak up. "I'm in," she said, her voice firm. "If it means I get one of these squishy little guys, I'll sign whatever."

"Same," Garret said, cracking his knuckles. "I never even dreamed that this was possible. I'm not passing it up."

Although Darius was happy they agreed, he still warned, "this isn't just some deal you can back out of later. Once you sign, you're locked in—no second chances."

Lira nodded slowly. "It's a risk, but it's one worth taking. If this Kain can give us power, then we owe it to ourselves to try."

Jax sighed, running a hand through his scruffy beard. "Well, I guess I will reluctantly agree… But if this goes south, I'm blaming all of you."

Darius grinned, relief washing over him. He had been worried that one of them might refuse, but he should have known better. These were his people—his family. They had been through too much together to back down now.

"Alright," he said, pulling out a stack of papers from a nearby table. "These are the contracts. Read them carefully, and if you're sure, sign at the bottom."

The group took the papers, their eyes scanning the text. The contracts were detailed, outlining the terms of secrecy and what they could and could not do or say. But none of them hesitated. One by one, they signed their names, their determination unwavering.

As the last signature was added, Darius felt a surge of happiness.

"Alright," Darius said, rolling down his sleeve to cover his tattoo and looking at his team. "Here is your mission."

Visit and read more novel to help us update chapter quickly. Thank you so much!Darius handed out a stack of papers to his group, each one detailing the mission they were about to undertake. The room was silent as they read through the information, their expressions shifting from curiosity to determination.

Meanwhile, in a hidden observation room nearby, Kain watched the scene unfold through the surveillance equipment, his arms crossed and his expression unreadable. His sharp eyes scanned each member of Darius's group, assessing their reactions and body language.

"Let's see what you're made of," Kain murmured to himself. "Hopefully you are able to help me exterminate some pests. And if not… well, there are plenty of others who would kill for this opportunity."

Kain's thoughts drifted to the mission he had assigned. The mission was simple in concept but complex in execution: infiltrate and dismantle the network of competitors and saboteurs targeting Kain's spiritual beer business.

Kain's businesses had been thriving, but success always came with enemies. His spiritual beer, FMT pills for River Wolf Pups, and multi-element silk had made him a fortune, but they had also made him a target.

The FMT pills and silk were nearly impossible to replicate, thanks to their unique production methods. Nobody knew the true identity of the FMT pills, and even if they did, they had no way to make the microorganisms be stable and survive in pill form.

Also, while everyone knew how to make the multi-element silk, since it was revealed when he applied for the registration of the new evolutionary form. The reason these subsequent evolutions had never been found was because it was almost impossible to get those various Silkworm Moths and Butterflies to create the silk with a specifically calculated amount of elemental energy, and then calculate how much of each element to add. Kain managed to train the moths and calculate the suitable amount of each element largely through the assistance of Bea and the System.

But the spiritual beer? That was a different story. Many felt as though they could easily produce their own spiritual beverages once they figured out the method Kain used.

The beer's recipe was a closely guarded secret, but that hadn't stopped competitors from trying to steal it.

Over the past few months, Kain's beer business had been under constant attack. Some competitors had resorted to industrial espionage, sending spies to infiltrate his factories and try to steal the recipe—not knowing the key ingredients, the Aetherbrew Yeast and the Royal Jelly made by Queen, were firmly under Kain's control.

Others had taken a more despicable approach, sabotaging his operations and tarnishing his reputation with knockoff products that were either poorly made or outright dangerous.

One of the more egregious incidents had occurred at Kain's newest factory, located in a low-tier city near Dark Moon.

The factory was supposed to be a symbol of Kain's growing empire, a state-of-the-art facility capable of producing enormous quantities of spiritual beer that would essentially increase his production capacity by 30% instantly.

But during a routine inspection, Collin—Kain's trusted assistant and the manager of all of his businesses—had discovered something alarming.

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The building materials used in the factory's construction had been tampered with. Poor-quality materials had been intentionally mixed into the foundation and support structures, making the building dangerously unstable. A slight tremor or even a strong gust of wind could have caused the factory to collapse, endangering the lives of hundreds of workers.

Kain had been furious when Collin reported the findings. This wasn't just sabotage—it was attempted murder of hundreds of his employees. Whoever was behind this had crossed a line, and Kain wasn't the type to let such transgressions go without retaliation.

The mission he had assigned to Darius's group was clear: identify the individuals and organizations responsible for the sabotage and eliminate them. But it wasn't just about revenge. Kain needed to send a message. He needed to show his enemies that crossing him came with consequences—fatal consequences.

——————————–

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Back in the meeting room, Darius's group finished reading the mission details. The atmosphere was tense, but there was also a sense of excitement. This was their chance to prove themselves, to show Kain that they were worthy of becoming beast-tamers.

"So," Jax said, breaking the silence, "we're basically being sent on a spy mission to take down a bunch of beer saboteurs. Sounds… fun?"

"It's not just about the beer," Lira said, her eyes scanning the document. "This is about sending a message. In addition to finding out the identities of the saboteurs, we may need to get back at them in a way that can subtly let everyone know Kain was behind it and fear him, but not to leave a handle that can be used against Kain later on."

"Yeah, but why us?" Garret asked, scratching his head. "I mean, we're good at what we do, but this seems like a job for professionals."

"We are professionals," Miya said, smirking. "Or did you forget all those times we outsmarted beast-tamers? Admittedly they were low-grade beast-tamer scumbags and we don't know how strong these guys are, but I'm not willing to turn back just as I've seen the light."

"She's right," Darius said, his voice firm. "This is our chance to show Kain what we're capable of. If we succeed, we get the power we've always wanted. If we fail… well, let's not think about that."

The group nodded, their determination solidified. They had spent years honing their skills, preparing for the day they could take on the beast-tamers who had wronged them. This mission was just another step in that journey—albeit a dangerous one.

"Alright," Lira said, taking charge. "Let's break this down. According to the documents, there are multiple groups targeting Kain's beer business. Some are overt and easy to track, like the idiots making knockoff beers and selling them. Others are more covert, using sabotage and espionage. Our job is to identify these groups, gather evidence, and, if necessary, eliminate them."

"Eliminate them?" Jax said, raising an eyebrow. "As in…?"

"As in permanently," Darius said, his tone leaving no room for doubt, confirming Kain's intentions—after all, he was the only one there that had met Kain and could make a reasonable assumption about his intentions. "Based on the effort he put into tracking me down just because he vaguely sensed hostility in my gaze, I can tell that Kain doesn't tolerate threats. Once we find evidence that someone is behind the sabotage, we take them out. No leniency. No second chances."

The group exchanged glances, but no one objected. They had all seen the darker side of the world, and they knew what was at stake. Not to mention, based on the reports that showed some of their unknown targets were willing to kill hundreds in the name of business, they weren't exactly people to feel guilty about eliminating.

Moreover, even if their targets weren't absolutely deplorable, none of them were perfectly moral characters fully against murder. They wanted to become beast-tamers, and so they had to prove they were willing to do whatever it took.

"Alright," Miya said, clapping her hands together. "So, where do we start?"

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"The knockoff beers are the easiest target," Lira said. "They're already out in the open, and they may even be connected to the more covert groups. We'll start there and work our way up the chain."

"Sounds like a plan," Garret said, cracking his massive knuckles. "Let's go crack some skulls."

"Not so fast," Lira said, holding up a hand. "We need to be smart about this. We're not just brute-forcing our way through. We need to gather information, cover the eyes and ears of the enemy, and make sure no one else we're targeting knows we're coming once we eliminate the first one."

"Lira's right," Darius said. "This isn't just a fight—it's a game. And we need to play it better than anyone else."

———————-

Thankfully, due to the likelihood that there would be beast-tamers among the enemies, and the fact that Kain had never really gotten to thoroughly test Darius, Kain took this as a good opportunity to look at what the entire team was capable of and allowed Darius to participate in their mission.

For future 'examinees' though, this would absolutely not be the case.

Darius's group wasted no time in preparing for their first move. The group gathered around a table, poring over maps, documents, and notes that Kain had provided. The atmosphere was tense but focused, each member of the team acutely aware of the stakes.

"Alright," Lira began, spreading out a map of the city where the knockoff beer operation was based. "The first, and the closest, target is a small brewery in the nearby Blue Moon City . It's run by a group calling themselves the 'Golden Brew Syndicate.' They've been flooding the market with cheap imitations of Kain's spiritual beer, and from what we've gathered, they're not exactly subtle about their operations."

"Subtle or not, they've been causing problems," Darius said, his voice low. "Their knockoffs are poorly made, and there have been reports of people getting sick after drinking them. That's bad for Kain's reputation, and it's drawing unwanted attention from the authorities."

"Which is probably exactly what they want," Jax muttered, leaning back in his chair. "Create chaos, make Kain look bad, and swoop in to take over the market."

Lira disagreed, "If the ultimate goal is to take over Kain's business, the knockoff beer sellers wouldn't benefit from making people sick, as that would only hurt consumer trust in spiritual beer as a whole. If the true saboteurs are more sophisticated corporations, they likely wouldn't rely on amateur knockoff brewers to cause serious damage and risk damaging an industry they are determined to take over. More likely, the poisoning incident is a byproduct of poor manufacturing since they can't figure out the correct method of brewing spiritual beer.

Darius agreed with Lira, "Indeed. This 'Golden Brew Syndicate' may not even be connected to the other groups. However, they are still a huge threat to Kain's reputation and need to be dealt with as soon as possible."

Lira nodded, "This syndicate is small-time. They don't have the resources or the know-how to pull off something like the sabotage at Kain's new factory. That means they're either working for someone bigger, or they're just unrelated pawns being used as a distraction by bigger corporations."

"So, we take them out and see if anyone comes running," Garret said, cracking his knuckles. "Simple enough."

"Not so fast," Lira said, holding up a hand. "We need to be smart about this. If we go in guns blazing, we risk tipping off the bigger players just to eliminate some unknown pawns. We need to gather information first—find out if anyone is funding them, or if they report to anyone, and if they know anything about the other groups targeting Kain."

"And how do we do that?" Miya asked, her eyes gleaming with curiosity.

Lira smirked. "We infiltrate. Miya, you're up."

Visit and read more novel to help us update chapter quickly. Thank you soReginald, the owner of the Golden Brew Syndicate, leaned his rotund body back in his plush office chair, a self-satisfied smile spreading across his face as he gazed out the window at the bustling streets of the Eastern Region.

His mind wandered to the long string of zeros accumulating in his bank account, courtesy of his thriving knockoff operation. The Spiritual Beer company, owned by that young prodigy Kain, was raking in the money, and Reginald saw no reason why he shouldn't get a slice of the pie.

'They're making a fortune, and they should share some of it,' Reginald thought to himself, his eyes gleaming with envy. 'My Golden Brew Beer may not be a true spiritual beer, but it's just as good, if not better. The taste is spot on, and people can barely tell the difference.' He chuckled, feeling a sense of pride and justification. 'I'm not a scammer, I'm just a clever businessman. And who needs spiritual power in a beer, anyway? It's all about the taste and the brand.'

As he sat at his desk, Reginald's eyes fell upon a newspaper article on his desk. The front page featured a photo of Kain, the young owner of the Spiritual Beer company, with a caption that read: "Spiritual Beer Sales Skyrocket: Kain's Company Leads the Market." Reginald's smile decreased slightly as he read the article, his mind filled with shameless thoughts.

'Look at him,' Reginald thought in resentment and envy. 'Thinks he's so much better than everyone else just because he's got a few patents and a fancy brewing process. But I know the truth. I know that it's all about the marketing and the branding. And I'm the one who's been able to replicate his success, albeit without the spiritual power.'

Reginald's eyes scanned the article, and he noticed a quote from Kain about the importance of using high-quality ingredients and adhering to strict brewing standards. Reginald snorted in derision.

'Please, like anyone actually cares about that,' he thought.

Just then, Reginald's assistant walked in with a fresh copy of the daily newspaper. Reginald took it from him and began to scan the headlines. His eyes widened as he saw the front-page article: "Beware of Fake Spiritual Beer: Poisoning Case Reported in Eastern Region."

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Reginald's smile faltered for a moment, but he quickly regained his composure when he saw his assistant staring at him nervously. "Ah, yes, that," he said. "Just a minor setback. A few people got sick from drinking our beer, but that's not our fault. Perhaps they added something to the beer after they bought it and got sick. It's not like we're responsible for their lack of common sense."

His assistant didn't appear fully convinced, but as a true slave to capitalism he really couldn't care about that customer. His boss paid his salary and he knew questioning his boss wouldn't keep him on his good side. So he simply nodded his agreement and left.

Reginald stood up from his desk and decided to take a walk through his factory. As he walked through the doors, he was greeted by a slightly mildewy smell coming from some of the older stacks of barley that they bought for cheap and the sound of clanging machinery. The factory was a cramped, unsanitary space, with workers rushing to meet the demand for the knockoff beer.

Reginald walked through the factory, nodding to his workers as he passed by. He saw rows of vats filled with a murky liquid, and workers stirring the mixture with large wooden spoons. The air was thick with the smell of fermentation, and Reginald could feel the heat emanating from the vats.

As he walked, Reginald noticed a group of workers gathered around a large tank, staring at something in horror. Reginald's curiosity got the better of him, and he walked over to investigate. When he saw what was inside the tank, he immediately got angry.

"Why are you all just standing there!"

A rat had somehow crawled into the tank and paddling was around in the beer. Reginald reached in and plucked out the rat. And tossed it into a corner of the room.

Its wet body scrambled up unsteadily and scampered away to a dark area of the room.

"Do…Do we need to throw this batch?" A worker hesitantly asked.

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"Are you stupid?! Why would you throw away a perfectly good batch?! Keep working! God, it's so hard to get good help these days."

The workers still looked at him nervously, but Reginald just winked at them. "Don't worry, boys, it's all perfectly safe. Not to mention that the customers certainly won't be able to taste any difference."

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People always overreacted to a little dirt. A rat in the vat? Please. Do they think all beer is made in some pristine, holy temple? His beer still tasted great. That's all that mattered.

Reginald continued his tour of the factory, nodding to his workers and making notes on a clipboard. As he walked, he thought about his plans for expansion into the Southern Region. Due to that stupid poisoning case that he was being blamed for, fewer and fewer people were buying his Golden Brew Beer, and that annoying Spiritual Beer company owned by Kain was capitalizing on their misfortune making sure to tell everyone to only purchase their certified beer from official distributors.

Reginald wanted to try his luck in the Southern Region, but he needed to recruit new people to help with the export and selling of his knockoff 'spiritual beer' in the new region.

Just as he was thinking about this, Reginald's assistant approached him with a curious expression. "Sir, the applicant you had us call back from the resume she submitted has arrived," he said. "She's waiting outside the factory."

Reginald's eyes sparkled with interest. "Ah, yes, excellent!" he said, his voice taking on a drawn out tone he felt was charming.

The assistant nodded and walked out of the factory, returning a moment later with a petite woman with striking red hair and an attractive face. From the moment Reginald had seen the photo attached to her resume, he'd felt that she would make an excellent addition to the business.

As soon as she stepped inside, Reginald's instincts flared. That body, that face—yes, she would do just fine. A woman like that could draw in customers, smooth over deals, and perhaps… provide him with some entertainment on the side.

"Welcome, welcome," Reginald said, his voice smooth as silk. "What brings you to our humble syndicate?"

The woman smiled, and Reginald's heart skipped a beat. "I'm looking for a job," she said, her voice sweet and melodious. "I heard you might be hiring and submitted a resume. I actually wasn't very hopeful since I have no experience. I'm so honored to just be called back!"

Reginald's eyes roved over her face and petite body in form fitting clothes meant to accentuate her curves, and he couldn't help but think about how easily he could charm her into his bed. After all, he could sense that she was just an ordinary person, and as a 2-star beast-tamer, although he was considered low-level among beast-tamers, he was still a prized catch for an ordinary person.

"Ah, yes, we are hiring," he said, his voice low and husky. "And I think you might just be the perfect candidate."

The woman seemed oblivious to Reginald's lecherous thoughts and stared at him with wide sparkling eyes filled with admiration, and he found himself becoming even more attracted to her. "What's your name, my dear?" he asked, his voice dripping with charm.

The woman hesitated for a moment before responding, "You can call me… Miy—ahem, Mary."

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