The sun had shifted west.
The weasel and I had walked most of the day.
Hunted two more small magic beasts along the way, replenishing some food.
The weasel's injuries had recovered considerably—at least no longer hindered movement.
My condition had also improved greatly.
Now the biggest problem was—
I still didn't know where the river had swept me.
Didn't know how far from the thicket.
Could only keep heading north.
Hoped Waspy and Brownie were still waiting for me.
Ahead, the weasel suddenly stopped.
Turned to look at me, pointing forward with its paw.
I immediately became alert, lowering my body.
Slowly approached.
Through the bushes, I saw a magic beast rummaging under a tree.
Gray-brown fur, very small body.
I checked its information.
[Burrow Mouse]
[Level: 3/10]
[HP: 40/40]
[MP: 10/10]
[Strength: 5]
[Defense: 4]
[Speed: 10]
[Luck: 5]
[Small magic beast that likes digging, feeds on plant roots and insects, timid and cautious]
Level 3, very weak.
I looked at the weasel, gesturing with my paws.
The weasel nodded and began circling to the side.
I hid behind bushes waiting.
A few seconds later, the weasel suddenly charged, pouncing at the Burrow Mouse.
The mouse shrieked and ran.
Right toward me.
I leaped from behind the bushes, biting its neck in one go.
"SLASH!"
[Burrow Mouse HP: 20/40]
The mouse struggled desperately, but its strength was too weak.
I yanked hard.
"CRUNCH!"
[Burrow Mouse HP: 0/40]
The mouse convulsed a few times, then stopped.
[Defeated Burrow Mouse]
[Multiple participants detected, experience distributed evenly]
[Gained 4 Experience]
The next second.
Warmth surged from within my body.
My body began heating up, all my muscles trembling.
"What's happening..."
The weasel looked at me, some panic in its eyes.
"Boss?"
I didn't answer.
Because the system notification appeared.
[Level Up! Level 8/25]
I opened the panel to check.
[Hoarder Squirrel] [Gray]
[Level: 8/25]
[Experience: 0/200]
[HP: 160/160]
[MP: 115/115]
[Strength: 14]
[Defense: 10]
[Speed: 20]
[Luck: 10]
[A rodent-type magic beast with a pocket dimension, loves hoarding various items, possesses brief spatial evasion ability]
[Traits: Dimensional Cheek Pouch, High Sensitivity, Spatial Affinity]
[Skills: Leap (Proficient), Bite (Proficient), Spatial Dodge]
Leveled up.
HP and magic power both increased, all stats enhanced.
But just as I was about to close the panel—
That warm sensation hadn't disappeared.
Instead it grew stronger.
Starting from my stomach, spreading through my entire body.
This feeling...
I remembered.
Same as when I ate the golden plant!
But back then it was just brief warmth that quickly faded.
Now, this warmth lasted several seconds and kept intensifying.
I could feel something changing inside me.
Was... awakening?
A few seconds later, the warmth slowly receded.
I gasped heavily, entire body soaked with sweat.
"Boss... are you okay?" The weasel asked cautiously.
"I'm fine." I said.
But inside I was shocked.
What just happened?
I opened the panel again.
In the skills section—
A new skill had appeared!
[Skills: Leap (Proficient), Bite (Proficient), Spatial Dodge, Spatial Mark]
Spatial Mark?
I immediately clicked to check.
[Spatial Mark]
[Can place spatial marks on magic beasts, maximum 5]
[Effect 1: Freely store/release marked beasts within sensing range (no contact required)]
[Effect 2: If beast harbors betrayal, mark automatically disappears and notifies host]
[Current Marks: 0/5]
[Sensing Range: 20 meters]
I looked at this skill description, heartbeat accelerating.
This...
This was the golden plant's effect?!
Not immediate.
But transforming my body, transforming my spatial ability.
Now, it finally manifested!
Freely store and release within sensing range!
No contact required!
What did this mean?
This meant I could store and release companions anytime, anywhere in battle.
Didn't need to run to their side, didn't need to touch them with my paws.
As long as within 20 meters, a single thought could store or release them!
And if they harbored betrayal, the mark would automatically vanish.
I'd know immediately.
This ability... was too strong.
I looked at the weasel.
It was looking at me puzzled.
"Boss, are you really okay?"
"I'm fine." I said. "Come here."
The weasel walked before me.
Though some unease showed in its eyes, it still obeyed.
I concentrated and used "Spatial Mark."
The next moment, I felt weak energy flow from within, flowing toward the weasel.
A faint point of light appeared on the weasel's forehead.
Very weak glow, lasting less than a second before disappearing.
But I could feel a connection had formed between the weasel and me.
An indescribable connection.
I could vaguely sense its location, sense its condition.
[Spatial Mark placed successfully]
[Current Marks: 1/5]
The weasel froze, touching its forehead.
"Just now... what was that?"
"A mark." I said. "From now on, you're truly my subordinate."
The weasel's eyes flickered with unease, some fear, but mostly confusion.
"Mark?"
"Yes." I said. "With this mark, I can store and release you anytime, without contact."
The weasel's eyes widened.
"Anytime?"
"Yes."
I backed away several steps, creating distance—about ten meters.
Then concentrated, a single thought.
The weasel's figure instantly vanished!
Taken into the space!
I paused, then smiled.
Really worked!
No contact needed to store and release!
I concentrated again, another thought.
The weasel reappeared in place.
It looked around in terror, then at me.
"This... how is this possible..."
"Nothing's impossible." I said. "This is the mark's power."
"You're my subordinate now. I can store and release you anywhere, anytime."
The weasel fell silent.
It lowered its head, eyes complex.
Fear, unwillingness, and a trace of despair.
It realized.
With this mark, it didn't even have a chance to flee.
As long as I wanted, I could take it back anytime.
"Don't think about escaping." I said. "If you harbor betrayal, the mark disappears."
"Then I'll know immediately and kill you."
The weasel shuddered.
"I... I understand."
I nodded.
Though the weasel was clearly reluctant, at least it knew resistance was now meaningless.
I tested several more times.
Remote storage and release was very smooth.
As long as within 20 meters, a single thought completed it.
And I could vaguely sense the weasel's condition.
HP about half remaining, magic power also recovered somewhat.
Though not as detailed as viewing the panel, at least I could tell if it could still fight.
This ability... was practically custom-made for team battles.
I could have the weasel scout ahead—once encountering danger, immediately recall it.
Could also suddenly release it during battle to ambush enemies.
Strike and withdraw, withdraw and release.
Appearing and vanishing unpredictably.
Enemies couldn't figure out how many companions I had.
I looked toward the distant north.
Waspy and Brownie were waiting there.
If I placed marks on them too...
Our coordination would rise to another level.
I processed the Burrow Mouse's corpse, putting the meat in the space.
Then continued north.
The weasel followed behind—the way it looked at me had changed.
From previous unwillingness to fear.
It knew that with the mark, it could never escape.
As I walked, I tested the mark's range.
Had the weasel walk ahead.
Up to 20 meters, could still sense it, but storage/release was slightly delayed.
25 meters, sensing began blurring and couldn't store/release anymore.
Beyond 30 meters, completely lost sensing.
Seemed 20 meters really was optimal distance.
Beyond this distance, the mark's effects greatly weakened.
But 20 meters was enough.
In battle, this distance was more than sufficient.
I called the weasel back to my side.
"Continue scouting ahead, but don't exceed 20 meters."
"Yes, boss." The weasel said quietly.
It walked forward, maintaining about 15 meters distance.
I followed behind, in good spirits.
Spatial Mark.
This was the golden plant's true effect.
Not making me immediately stronger, but giving me a more powerful tool.
A tool to truly build a team.
Now I had 5 mark slots.
Used 1, 4 remaining.
Don't know if mark count would increase after leveling up or evolving.
But at least now, I could recruit 4 more members.
Had to find Waspy and Brownie quickly, place marks on them too.
They were my most trusted companions.
With marks, our coordination would become stronger.
Then recruit a few more members with unique traits.
Like defensive types, or ranged attack types.
Complete the team.
Lost in thought, the weasel suddenly stopped.
It turned to look at me, paw pointing ahead.
I immediately became alert.
From the woods ahead came rustling sounds.
More than one.
Sounded like... at least three or four magic beasts.