Eston extended a hand to rest gently on Bane's shoulder. "Now, let's retrieve it from the cage and make our way back. Your path as a dominion seeker has taken a remarkable stride forward."
***
"How can I summon the Razorclaw Mantis into my spatial realm?" inquired Bane with curiosity etched on his face.
"Only when you've reached tier 1 does that ability become accessible to you. Once we're back home, I'll provide you with a detailed explanation of how to harness your dominion seeker abilities," Eston explained.
"Understood," Bane replied with a resolute nod.
With formalities completed and paperwork signed, acknowledging their acquisition of the Razorclaw Mantis, the duo bid their farewells to the staff who had assisted them.
Exiting the establishment, they were accompanied by the newly acquired creature. Remarkably, the Razorclaw Mantis' demeanor had undergone a significant transformation. Once brimming with hostility, it now exhibited complete submission and a peaceful demeanor as it followed Bane and Eston.
Navigating their way toward the exit, they couldn't help but attract envious glances from various onlookers. However, as they left the building their departure was abruptly halted by a disapproving voice.
"So, you're the ones who stole the Razorclaw Mantis from my nephew?" The voice dripped with irritation, forcing the trio to halt in their tracks. The speaker was none other than Darius, his presence casting an unexpected shadow over their departure.
"Stole?" Eston countered with a bemused smile playing on his lips. "How exactly did we 'steal' your Razorclaw Mantis, when it's quite evident," he gestured toward the creature, "that it rightfully belongs to my boy?"
"Your boy!" Darius erupted, his tone filled with disdain.
"Is this pitiful excuse for a dominion seeker the replacement for your true heir? How far down has the Ironstalker bloodline fallen, resorting to accepting just anyone into its fold."
Enraged by the derogatory words, Bane lunged toward Darius, his fist clenched in anger.
"Bind," Darius commanded casually.
Darius's command echoed in the air, and with a swift motion of his hand, the ground beneath Bane's feet quivered. Thick, sinuous roots erupted from the earth, shooting upward with astonishing speed. Like serpents of nature, they snaked around Bane's limbs, tightening progressively until he was immobilized, suspended in the air by the entangling grip of the roots.
"This is your so-called, boy?" toyed Darius.
Bane struggled against his restraints, his muscles straining against the unyielding hold. The roots seemed to pulse with a life of their own, responding to Darius's command, their grip unrelenting.
A sudden movement caught Bane's attention. From the corner of his eye, he saw a swift and fluid motion as the Razorclaw Mantis, driven by an instinct to protect its newfound master, lunged forward with blinding speed.
Its sharp claws extended like daggers, aiming for Darius with unwavering ferocity. The beast's movements were a blur, a testament to its incredible agility and predatory instincts. In that split second, it transformed from a once-agitated creature to a focused and deadly force, fueled by its loyalty to Bane.
Mocking laughter echoed from Darius. "How endearing! You've already gained this beast's trust! Well, let's make this more interesting."
"Flames of the abyss!" Instantly, towering flames erupted, enveloping the Razorclaw Mantis menacingly.
Eston's response was swift and calculated.
With a quick summoning, he brought forth a fire drake, a magnificent creature that consumed the flames created by Darius with ease. Eston positioned himself in front of the colossal creature, his presence dwarfed by the fire drake's imposing figure.
In a surprising twist, the Razorclaw Mantis reacted with lightning speed, its instincts honed by years of survival in the wild. With a sudden burst of energy, it lunged forward, its razor-sharp claws glinting dangerously. But instead of simply shielding its new master, the mantis had a more aggressive intention.
The Razorclaw Mantis closed the distance in an instant. Its claws, sharper than swords, sliced through the air with deadly precision, aimed directly at Darius.
Darius conjured a barrier of swirling magical energy in front of him. The mantis's claws met the barrier with a loud bang, and the impact sent the Razorclaw Mantis flying backward.
"You're but a toy in my eyes," mocked Darius.
Eston's fire drake roared, flames billowing from its nostrils, as it assessed the unfolding battle. Eston himself remained vigilant, his expression resolute as he observed the clash between the Razorclaw Mantis and Darius's magic.
Bane, though still bound by the roots, watched the scene unfold with a mixture of surprise and hope. The beast he had tamed had not only shown loyalty but had taken matters into its own claws to protect him.
With tension crackling in the air, Eston spoke up and addressed Darius with an unyielding tone. "Do you really want to fight right here and now, Darius?" His voice resonated with authority, backed by the formidable presence of the fire drake.
"If so," Eston's voice was calm but filled with resolve. He raised his hand, and in a surge of ethereal energy, another beast materialized beside him. This creature was of a different magnitude, a presence that sent shivers down the spines of those present. It was a dragonkin, an eight-star beast teetering on the precipice of evolving into a true dragon.
The dragon kin's appearance was awe-inspiring and imposing. Its scales were as black as the night sky, exuding an aura of ancient power that seemed to engulf the entire area. With every beat of its enormous wings, ripples of raw energy emanated from its form, causing the very air to vibrate with its intensity.
This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.
The dragon kin's eyes gleamed like fiery orbs, fixing their intense gaze on Darius with an undeniable air of authority. Its snout curled into a menacing expression, revealing rows of sharp, gleaming teeth that could rend steel with ease. As it moved, the ground itself seemed to tremble in deference to its might.
In response to Darius's presence, the dragonkin let out a resonant, earth-shaking roar that reverberated through the air. The sound was a symphony of power, a declaration of dominance that sent shivers down the spines of those who heard it. The ground beneath its feet quivered as if in acknowledgment of the force that stood upon it. The roar seemed to echo not just in the physical realm, but also in the very depths of consciousness, instilling a sense of awe, reverence, and fear in all who were present.
Darius, for all his arrogance, couldn't help but falter under the weight of the dragonkin's aura. The magical barrier he created to block the Razorclaw Mantis's attack wavered, cracks spreading across its surface as if under the pressure of immeasurable weight. The realization that he was facing not only Eston but also these formidable beasts left him with a choice: continue to defy and face dire consequences, or yield to the overwhelming force before him.
"I think we will end this fight here?" said Eston, with a smirk on his face.
Darius clicked his teeth in reluctant agreement, his frustration palpable. With this begrudging concession, he released the bindings that had immobilized Bane. As the restraints dissolved, Bane tumbled to the ground with a sudden jolt, prompting the Razorclaw Mantis to swiftly position itself by his side, ready to fend off any potential threat.
Lying on the ground, Bane extended a hand and placed it on the Razorclaw Mantis leg, his gratitude toward the beast evident, and in soft, whispered words he said, "Thank you."
Eston's voice rang out, firm and resolute. "If you persist in abusing your powers in such a manner, I will have no choice but to bring this matter to the king's attention."
Darius remained silent, his response to Eston's warning marked by his decisive actions. He turned his focus towards his nephew, an individual who had largely gone unnoticed amidst the intense confrontation. Swiftly and with a mix of urgency, Darius grasped his nephew's arm, silently signaling for them to leave the scene of confrontation.
The nephew, previously overshadowed, displayed an unmistakable blend of fear and apprehension in his eyes. His body emitted an aura of unease as he stood there, his knees trembling slightly. His gaze remained fixed on the imposing figure of the dragonkin, an entity radiating an aura of authority and power that surpassed ordinary comprehension.
"Ugh," Darius groaned in a mixture of frustration and resignation, deploying his magic to lift his nephew off the ground. The young man clung to his uncle, casting a final glance tinged with wide-eyed fear toward the dragonkin before they retreated, leaving the area in an embarrassed hurry.
As their figures faded into the distance, the tense atmosphere gradually dissipated.
"You handled that well, boy, but do not underestimate Darius because of this encounter. If both of us fought seriously… I don't know what would've been left of the kingdom," Eston remarked with a serious tone.
Bane nodded, though deep down, he couldn't shake off the feeling of his own inadequacy. "I couldn't do a single thing in that battle, I'm weak, way too weak," he thought to himself, a self-critical voice echoing in his mind.
"Let's get going before the kingdom guards arrive. I don't have the energy to give a report," Eston suggested, his gaze shifting toward the potential consequences of their recent clash.
"Will we be flying on Princess's back?" Bane inquired, remembering the magnificent horse-like beast that Eston often rode.
After a moment of consideration, Eston responded, "Let's go with my dragonkin."
With a swift gesture, Eston unsummoned the fire drake, offering it a fond farewell with a kiss on the forehead. "His name is Kiedron, a dragonkin that uses gravity magic. I'm just a few more months away from making him evolve," Eston explained as he mounted Kiedron's back.
Assisting Bane onto the dragonkin's massive form, Eston continued to share his knowledge. "Beasts can evolve. As they ascend through tiers, an evolution takes place," he explained as Kiedron prepared for takeoff.
Curiosity driving him, Bane asked, "Now, how does one make them go up in tiers?"
"Meditation. To harness the world's mana, one must meditate and employ specific meditation techniques to accumulate more mana. Once you gather enough mana to fill your body's mana reserve, you can refine it. If the refining process is successful, you advance to the next stage," Eston elaborated.
"How many stages are there?" Bane inquired, his voice carrying a mix of wonder and apprehension.
Eston tapped Kiedron's side, and they were off. The speed of takeoff left Bane slightly dazed, his head spinning from the sudden acceleration.
"Five stages, boy. As you successfully refine your mana through these five stages, you climb a rank. Mages acquire a larger mana reserve, while aura users gain a sturdier physique. For us dominion seekers, our spatial realm expands, allowing us to tame more creatures. We also gain an enlarged mana reserve and a stronger body. We're what some might call a 'cheat class,'" Eston explained, his words carried away by the wind as they soared through the skies.
Curiosity gripped Bane, his hair fluttering wildly in the wind. "A cheat class?"
"Indeed. Out of the three main classes—Mage, Aura User, and Dominion Seeker—Dominion seekers are often considered the strongest. We can tame beasts, harness some of their abilities, and enjoy the benefits of the other two classes as we progress. That's precisely why dominion seekers are a rarity. Out of the five thousand kids at the academy, I'd estimate around fifty are dominion seekers," Eston concluded.
"But, back to your original question, when our tames kill other beasts or humans, they gain some mana from the individual. This also aids in our growth as Dominion seekers, and the more kills your beast achieves, the faster they'll go up in the tiers, but meditating also helps them gain mana, although this method works a tad bit slower."
"That does make sense. So you've killed many beasts in your time, Uncle Eston?" Bane shouted over the wind's rush, their voices carried away on the breeze.
"Of course, I've killed humans too. It's something you have to get accustomed to as time goes by," Eston responded matter-of-factly.
"Killing a human, you say," Bane muttered, his voice tinged with a mix of curiosity and concern. A memory, vivid and haunting, resurfaced from the depths of his mind, leaving an indelible mark.
The memory of the day he had taken a life was etched into his mind, a haunting reminder that he would never forget. It was a day that had changed him in profound ways. Bane had been assigned the task of stealing a bundle of goods from a market owner, a desperate act borne out of his circumstances in the slums. But the situation escalated rapidly when the market owner confronted him, driven by anger and a desire to protect his property. In the heat of the moment, Bane had acted in self-defense, unintentionally causing the man's death.
The weight of that unintended act hung heavily on Bane's conscience. Living in the harsh environment of the slums, he had always tried to set himself apart from the lawlessness that surrounded him. He stole only out of necessity, never seeking to become like those who exploited others. And yet, fate had twisted his path in a tragic direction, forcing him to confront the harsh reality of taking a life, even in self-defense. The memory was a constant reminder of the fragility of life and the consequences of his actions.
Eston noticed the troubled expression on the boy's face and turned around to address him, genuine concern in his eyes. "What's wrong, kiddo?" he asked, his voice carrying a comforting tone.
Shaken out of his thoughts, Bane quickly composed himself and replied, "Oh, it's nothing, don't worry about it."
Eston's nod was understanding, but his focus soon shifted ahead. "Look, we're almost home!" he announced cheerfully.
A small smile tugged at the corners of Bane's lips. As he gazed at the estate in the distance, a profound sense of contentment settled within him. The concept of "home" had always been elusive, a distant dream for someone who had never truly belonged anywhere. He had never experienced the warmth of a place to return to, nor the company of people who would eagerly await his return. Yet, in an unexpected turn of events, this estate and the people within it had become a haven, a place he could finally call "home."
The word resonated deeply within him as he contemplated the journey he had embarked on. From the slums to this newfound sanctuary, the transformation was more than just physical. It was a transformation of the heart and soul, a journey towards belonging and purpose.