Mutou approached, five softly glowing S-rank monster cores cradled in his gauntlets.
"Young master," he rumbled, how shall we use these cores?"
Piers stroked his chin, slipping into thought.
Gyuunyuu zipped in like a caffeinated spark, orbiting him with bright eyes.
"Oh, oh, I have an idea, Master! You could totally make a ton of money with those cores! Or—ooh—make amazing magical artifacts! Oh! How about you pour your mana into them and then sell them? They'd be worth even more! Oh, oh—"
But Piers's gaze had already drifted past her, an idea sparking in his eyes like flint striking steel.
Piers paused, eyes sharpening with a thought.
"Mutou," he cut in, completely ignoring Gyuunyuu's ongoing babble,
"Tell me the names of the monsters these came from."
"Hey! Don't ignore me!" Gyuunyuu huffed.
Mutou held up each core in turn.
"The red one is from a Fiamme. The blue from an Undine.
The yellow belonged to a Thunderbringer. The green is The Howling Wind. And finally, the purple… the Poison Bloom Bear."
Piers's grin tilted sarcastic.
"Of course they are," he muttered, turning toward an empty patch of ground.
So much for a 'peaceful' rest.
As Liel, Lein, Luci, and Thog groggily sat up, Piers gestured to the dirt.
"Spread them out, Mutou. Little distance between each."
They watched with growing curiosity as he stepped toward the red Fiamme core.
Drawing in a steady breath, he let mana gather at his fingertips, curling into the orb. The core flared, rose into the air, and began to pulse like a beating heart.
"…Alright. Let's turn this thing into… something."
Mana shaped, stretched, and molded under his will until a towering, muscular fire-man stood before them—his molten body rippling like living magma.
the Fiamme core glowing deep in his chest like a blazing heart.
The silence that followed was thick with awe.
Lein edged forward, hand half-raised as if to shake the creature's molten hand.
"Woah…" he breathed.
"It's quite beautiful…" Luci whispered.
Piers's eyes narrowed in focus. Appraisal.
Information spilled into his mind…
Name: Blaze
Rank: Arcane Tier
Description: A Volcanus, mythical creature thought to be extinct for millennia.
Abilities: Magma Manipulation: Controls magma and fire. Superhuman Strength: Possesses immense physical power. Heat Resistance: Highly resistant to heat and fire.
He exhaled slowly.
"Okay… done. Next."
His eyes flicked to the other cores still resting on the ground.
"…Fine. Let's go bigger."
He exhaled through his nose, forcing his mana to settle.
Good.
Now let's try all of them—at once.
The group leaned in, curiosity and apprehension tangling in the air.
He reached out with his mana—every core at once.
The remaining cores rose into the air, glowing and pulsing in sync.
Mana wrapped each core, warping and stretching until new figures stepped forward from the light:
From the Undine core — a short, lithe water girl whose every movement shimmered like a flowing stream. Her translucent skin caught the sunlight in ripples, and her hair was a liquid cascade that shifted with every tilt of her head.
From the Thunderbringer core — a slim, sharp-eyed lightning man, his frame jittering subtly as arcs of electricity danced along his limbs.
From The Howling Wind core — a compact, broad-shouldered wind elemental whose whole form spun gently with miniature tornado currents.
From the Poison Bloom Bear core — a tall, elegant woman draped in poisonous beauty, her every movement leaving a faint shimmer of green mist in the air.
The display drew a chorus of reactions—muted gasps, low whistles, and one unfortunate yelp.
Gyuunyuu zipped around Lein, warning, stopping him about the lightning, but he, in his usual impulsive manner, ignoring her frantic bottle-flapping warnings, reached out toward the lightning man with all the curiosity of someone who had clearly learned nothing from past shocks.
BZZZT!
Lein's hair went vertical. His eyes crossed. He swayed in place like a stunned chicken.
"…Told ya," Gyuunyuu she chirped, far too pleased with herself.
Meanwhile, Piers's gaze sharpened.
Appraisal.
Data hit his mind like a clean download:
Name: Ondine
Rank: Arcane Tier
Description: An ancestor of water spirit Undine — a mythical creature of pure water, possessing fluid grace and control over the element.
Abilities: Water Manipulation: Controls water with precision. Fluid Form: Can alter her body's state.Enhanced Agility: Possesses exceptional speed and reflexes.
Name: Ventus
Rank: Arcane Tier
Description: A being of pure wind — a mythical creature with mastery over the air and storms.
Abilities:
Wind Manipulation: Controls air currents and storms. Enhanced Speed: Moves with incredible swiftness. Flight: Can fly with ease.
Name: Asphyx
Rank: Arcane Tier
Description: A mythical creature of poison, radiating a dangerous aura and wielding toxic power.
Abilities: Poison Manipulation: Creates and controls various toxins. Enhanced Senses: Possesses heightened senses. Aura of Toxicity: Emits a passive toxic field.
Name: Arc
Rank: Arcane Tier
Description: A being of pure lightning — a mythical creature of speed and raw electrical energy.
Abilities: Lightning Manipulation: Generates and controls electricity. Superhuman Speed: Moves at incredible velocities. Electrical Absorption: Can absorb and redirect electrical energy.
Piers stood in the center of it all, five Arcane-tier beings arrayed around him like an elemental royal guard.
A slow, satisfied smirk crept across his face.
My genius… truly unmatched. Peaceful life, here I come. With these guys around, any trouble will just… solve itself.
"Master! Did you make these for training partners?!" Lein blurted, practically bouncing, his earlier electrocution apparently erased from memory.
Liel and Luci gasped, stunned.
Thog let out a pleased, rumbling grunt.
Liel's eyes gleamed. "We can finally push ourselves!"
"This is going to be intense…" Luci murmured, already sizing them up.
"As expected, Young Master," Mutou said with a respectful bow.
"To create such powerful beings… it's beyond anything I've ever seen."
Gyuunyuu zipped in, puffing out her cheeks.
"Yeah, yeah, they're great—but did you see that, Master? Lein fried himself! This is why you need me. Without me, you'd all be crispy bits by now!"
Piers only nodded, soaking in the admiration, his mind already fast-forwarding to the future.
Minimal effort, maximum relaxation… that's the dream.
.
.
.
.
The sun was low.
Shadows stretched across the fields, and the air felt heavy.
Nearby, Rook's group had stopped not far from Piers's house.
Rook stood still, staring at the distant building, a faint crease on his brow.
That power… the way he just—poof!
He clenched his claws.
Maybe… maybe he could help us. With the village…
Skree noticed his lingering stare.
"Rook? We need to rest. Klak and Rapi can barely walk," she said, exasperated.
"I know," he said, eyes never leaving the house. "But that power… it could save our village. We have to try."
A memory rose—unbidden and sharp:
A younger Rook, backed against a tree, feathers torn, a monster lunging at him—
—and a woman with flowing hair stepping between them, her smile gentle, her power overwhelming.
The memory clenched something deep in his chest.
"That person… that hero… they might be our only hope," he murmured. "Maybe the only ones who can."
But Skree shook her head firmly.
"No, Rook. We stick to our plan—reach the Human region. And besides…"
She lowered her voice.
"You feel it too, right? That dark energy around the house. Something's wrong. Heavy."
Rook hesitated. He did feel it. Like a cold draft crawling across his feathers.
Finally, he nodded.
"…Then… we leave for the Human region at first light
They made camp in uneasy silence, the "wrongness" from the nearby home stretching over them like a shadow.
Inside that very house…
Rigas was locked in an entirely different battle—trying to drag his wife back to reality.
"Xylia, my love! Wake up!" he pleaded, shaking her shoulders with increasing urgency.
But she only smiled faintly, lost in the blissful loop of Piers's spell.
At the table, Styx sat perched like a sulking cat, patting her stomach.
"Mama…" she whined, voice dangerously close to tears. "I'm hungryyyy…"
Her belly growled loud enough to echo.
Midnight draped the forest in deep blue shadows.
A small bonfire crackled in front of their base, casting long, flickering shapes across the clearing. The smell of roasted meat mingled with crisp night air.
His little company gathered around the fire, bowls in hand. Lein's eyes kept darting between Piers and his bowl, while the others were focused on their young master.
"The air hung thick with anticipation."
Piers stood atop a small, weathered stone, framed by the glow of the fire. His newly created mythical beasts loomed behind him like elemental guardians.
"Alright. Listen up," he began, voice calm and commanding.
"We're going to make a base—strong and secure. To do that, we'll explore the forest, uncover its secrets, and gather resources."
His gaze swept the circle, pausing briefly on Lein, who shoveled food into his mouth at an alarming speed, cheeks puffed like a chipmunk, yet eyes still glued to Piers.
"We're strong, yes," Piers continued, "but we'll become even stronger—especially with Dad's training. So…"
His lips curled into a grin.
"…it's adventure time."
A beat.
Then the dam burst—
"Yes, Master!" they shouted in unison, voices full of excitement and resolve.
Piers jabbed a finger toward the treeline. "Finish your food! We're going on a new adventure."
He hopped down from the stone, the firelight glinting off his grin.
"It's night hunt time."
The group polished off their food in record time, the clearing alive with the sounds of clinking bowls, hushed chatter, and the occasional clumsy scramble to grab dropped gear. Excitement hummed in the air, Boots were tightened. Weapons adjusted. The night seemed to lean in, listening.
Mutou stepped forward, his broad frame cutting a steady shadow across the firelight. Bowing respectfully, he said,
"Young Master, might I propose we investigate the cave gate—the very place where we rescued Gyuunyuu.
He paused, his voice lowering, weight creeping into his words.
"It may hold discoveries of great value… and if trouble awaits, having your summoned beasts with us would be… wise."
Piers's face remained unreadable, his eyes flat and half-lidded like a man already bored of the conversation. But behind that mask, his thoughts sparked.
That cave… That's where I unlocked a unique skill. What if there's more?
A slow, devilish grin formed.
"Interesting."
He pulled Mutou aside, their conversation dropping to a quiet murmur.
The kids, still buzzing from the night hunt announcement, suddenly felt the air shift.
They traded uneasy glances, sensing the shift in Piers's demeanor — a mix of excitement and a dash of "uh oh."
They didn't know what their master was planning… but the grin on his face promised nothing good.
"Let's go," he announced at last, the grin still hanging there.
The group shifted into motion—apprehensive, but eager.
From the treeline, Luci stepped forward, her crimson eyes narrowing.
"I stay with Piers-sama. Security.
she said simply, her tone like drawn steel.
This forest… feels wrong. I'm best for things that aren't normal."
Liel shuffled closer, glancing nervously but speaking with quiet concern.
"But I should be near him too, Luci. What if he's hurt? What if something... scary... happens and he needs help quickly?"
"Stopping it is first," Luci countered, unwavering.
"My job is to ensure nothing gets close. I'm faster, stronger, and see things you might miss."
"But what if it's not for fighting?" Liel persisted, eyes a little wider.
"what if it's… something else? I can sense things. presence". That could help too."
"Pointless," she added after a pause. "Piers-sama needs someone who acts. Someone who understands darkness. That's me."
"And someone who can make him feel better," Liel answered, her voice soft but unwavering.
"That's me."
Both turned to Piers, eyes intense, voices overlapping.
"Piers-sama… who stays closest to you?"
Piers froze. A bead of sweat slid down his temple. Great… the classic 'who do you like more?' scenario. Why does this always happen to fantasy heroes?
He cleared his throat and glanced between them.
"Why don't you both stay close? One on my right, one on my left."
The girls blinked. Blushes crept onto their cheeks as the obvious solution landed—slightly embarrassed they hadn't thought of it themselves.
As they began to move, Luci claimed Piers's right, Liel his left—both walking in perfect sync, clearly satisfied with their positions.
That fragile truce lasted exactly three seconds.
With a mischievous flutter, Gyuunyuu swooped in, giggling smugly. Without asking, she plopped herself onto Piers's shoulder and nestled in like she owned the spot.
"Best seat in the house," she announced.
Luci and Liel's eyes snapped wide in unison. A vein throbbed at each temple.
They exchanged a look that promised swift retribution for the little milk bottle yokai.
Behind them, the boys sported enormous sweat drops, keenly sensing the storm that was rapidly brewing.
* * *