Grant took Devis and Berg to a new forest that he had implemented into is divine realm.
Unlike his normal forests, he did not make this one to train some strong monster, but to train Devis himself.
Well technically it was to train a monster then.
Because of the boy's path as a beastmaster, Grant had set this forest up, far unlike the previous ones he had made.
It wasn't really meant to be a gu chamber after all, where monsters grew by killing each other endlessly, but a nursery, from which the boy would find his first monster.
All the monsters here were weak beasts, beneath the first level, being the equivalent of F level creatures, or even the level of the average person.
Grant spoke to the boy freely, explaining the purpose of today's field trip. "Since you're a beastmaster, obviously choosing your own beastmaster is equally important. So I've set up this small forest for you to choose your first monster.
Of course, choosing your first monster is more than just pointing and choosing; it's about finding someone who has great compatibility with you. So today's mission for you is to familiarize yourself with the residents of this forest, and gain the trust of one of the critters here. And once you've chosen one, it's up to you to initiate and complete the contract."
Devis asked curiously."Can I choose anything here? The textbook said that certain beasts are better than others."
Grant smiled reassuringly. "Of course! That's true for normal beasts and beast tamers, but with me here, anything can soar to the sky. What's more important for you is to find someone who fits you best."
After saying this, he explained a few more things.
A. He was allowed to bring snacks in to treat the critters here
B. He was going to spend an hour in here every day from now on until he contracted a beast
C. Everything within the forest was tameable. Everything.
After saying that, Grant sent the boy into the forest, as one man and one golem stood side by side.
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Berg watched as the boy tipped over the horned rabbit in surprise.
"I'm surprised you're being so soft with this one. You tossed that dragon boy into a secret realm inheritance of a sumo god as your first lesson." He asked, remembering the death-like lessons he had seen Grant give to his previous students.
Grant snorted, complaining about his first student. "That little brat deserved it, that crazy sumo obsessed punk! I was just teaching him a lesson."
He added on, more seriously than before. "And that child was different. What he needed was a little suffering to temper than behaviour of his. This one doesn't need tempering. That's the last thing he needs." Grant said, thinking of the pain the boy had already endured, more than most child would ever have to bear.
Hearing this, Berg acquiesced quietly, before asking him something else on a more positive tone.
"So when do I get a new body?"
"Hmm?" Grant hummed questioningly, while Devis glared at his master
"Don't hmm me. I can't live in this body forever and you know it. So when are you going to upgrade me?!" Berg demaded.
Once a hulking titan of a golem that could seep a city with one hand, reduced to a vacuum sized maid golem. Of course he'd be clamouring for a new body!
Grant smiled mysteriously, as he answered vaguely. "Oh, you know, when I find the time to do it."
"Hey, hey hey! WHat do you mean when you find the time to do it? I thought you said retired! Get to it you lazy old bastard!"
"Who are you calling old bastard?!"
The two bickered like this for a while, watching as the child wandered through the forest and they butted heads.
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Devis walked through the forest, observing the creatures that were moving throughout the forest.
They were all so... peaceful.
Even the predators were ignoring the herbivores, as he observed a reptile like monster just wander past a horned rabbit.
Devis soon found out why as he observed a certain plant in wonder.
It was a very red, bloody looking like plant, drooling a viscous red liquid that could practically be called blood. Near it were also trees with gruesome looking fruit, each fruit looking like an organ or a cut of flesh.
But despite it being such a vicious sight, Devis still found it amazing.
Whenever a predator wandered nearby, the plant just dropped its fruit. The "fruit" had such a great attraction that even Devis found it tempting.
He watched as a wolf came by, eating the meat like fruit without hesitation, before walking off.
Nothing happened. No poisoned animals, no terrifying vines coming out, nothing. The plant just dropped those meat like fruit again for the beasts to eat.
It didn't take much for Devis to realize that this was likely his master's doing, creating these meats so that none of the creatures here would fight one another for flesh.
This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.
The weird man was clearly a powerful one as well, yet it was hard to see with how childishly he reacted.
The boy sat there quietly, observing the passing beasts. Although many were surprised by the presence of a new monster, and even mildly intimidated by his level, most just quietly bypassed him, seeking their meatly fruits before leaving.
Some even came up to him, curiously sniffing him, prodding him or just napping on top of him.
Through all of this, Devis sat quietly, barely moving an inch, enjoying the company of the small critters.
It was a quiet, yet enjoyable time. The forest was a peaceful place of tranquility, so reassuring that Devis could not help but let his guard down inadvertently.
Eventually, he got up, surprising a family of horned rabbits which had lumped themselves on top of him.
They quickly scrambled and jumped away rapidly, leaving behind a greatly amused Devis.
There was no specific place for herbivores to eat, but there was clearly more than enough for them to eat, with the lush vegetation a clear buffet.
Devis did feel a little bad for the predators who only got to eat meat fruits and blood nectar, while the herbivores had all this variety.
Despite being low level fauna, there was such a huge variety that he couldn't believe it.
He believed his master's words, that anything here could be tamed, because everything was some sort of fantastical monster.
A small lizard with a flaming tail was eating next to another weirder lizard with a knife for a tail, which it quietly nibbled on.
Small fish fry that swam through the water, and waddled on land, weirdly bashing into the side of the wall, a hip check as some warriors would call it.
He had walked by one cactus, before noticing the cactus running away faster than he could react.
Was that a centipede rolling by him in the form of a wheel?
There was even a small blue felyne passing by him, honking it's silly red nose and waving around it's paw like club.
A small crocodile like critter, playing with the strings running alongside its back.
Devis observed them carefully, and more importantly, their reaction towards him.
Both in and out of class, his teacher had emphasized the importance of compatibility.
He had a decent compatibility with water and fire, so of course such creatures took priority for him, but the compatibility of personality was the most important thing in his teacher's eyes.
If beastmaster and beast were out of sync, then what was the point of a beastmaster?
It made sense to him.
So he sought amongst those whom he thought were the best fits.
None of the above were interested in him unfortunately.
He could spend time with them, but he was looking for some who he felt a flicker with, if even for a moment.
An instinct.
He felt it with some of them actually.
One of the earlier horned rabbits had followed him earlier, hopping behind him, and observing the young ogre from a distance, hiding whenever he turned to look at him, yet peeking out when the boy turned away.
Unfortunately, his ears gave him away. It was hilarious.
In the rivers he met a weird pair of critters. A flaming crow trying to submerge itself in the water, and a turtle trying to stand in fire. The two clearly had determined expressions and excited tempers. They ignored him, so devoted to their task at hand, yet he felt their flames of passion, and felt motivated just by being near them.
He wanted to get their attention.
And a crab, practicing boxing furiously. WHen it saw him, it came over excitedly, inviting him to join him in boxing. And he did.
Despite the crab being limited to hooks, that did not deter the crab from trying hard.
He decided to increase his interactions with these four, and to see if he could increase their compatibility.
As for who to choose?
Why couldn't he choose all of them?
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Grant couldn't help but chuckle as he watched the young ogre explore the forest he'd built for him.
It didn't take much for the man to deduce what the boy was thinking when he looked at the monsters in the forest.
Of course he could have them all!
Only children choose! Adults take everything!
Still, there certainly were one or two interesting ones amongst them.
Berg also saw it, as he noted confusedly. "Does that crow have golden crow blood? Then why is it drowning itself in water?
And that turtle has island turtle blood... yet is burning himself alive? Is he trying to gain a fire attribute?" The golem speculated confusedly and Grant laughed.
"No, but it is quite interesting. A sun which wishes to become the moon, and the world which wishes to be a star. I'll admit, even if he hadn't picked them, I might've raised them myself. " Grant pondered humorously, finding himself obsessing over the idea of doing these paths in the future.
Of course, the other two were full of personality as well. A sneaky little horned rabbit, and a boxing crab.
They didn't have any particularly outstanding features, yet they were quite interesting to him nonetheless. He was willing to take them as far as he could.
Grant was in a good mood, yet that good mood faded as his expression turned annoyed.
"What is it? Thought you were pretty happy with this apprentice?" Berg asked, and Grant nodded.
"I am, but it's my other students who are in trouble right now." He then gave Berg an order.
"Watch the boy and make sure he's not having any trouble. I'll go deal with the other problem."
pop
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Dain and Natalie were facing off with two people.
One of them was the classic young brat cultivator, and the other, the poor senior servant who had to deal with the young master's problems.
Of course, in this case, both the old servant and the young brat were nascent soul cultivators, while Dain and Natalie were far outleveled.
Having been attacked earlier, Dain and Natalie were both in poor condition, as Dain had to support himself on Natalie's shoulder.
Perhaps Natalie would be happier under better circumstances.
Unfortunately, they were being threatened by a pair of cultivators, the most ruthless kind of people.
The only reason the pair of them were still standing at this moment was because of Grant's life saving grace. Just before a killing blow was landed, the king level spirit had awakened.
It was an eccentric spirit, taking the shape of a dragonmen, but not in armor or uniform, but in suit, as a typewriter levitated in front of it, acting as its spiritual weapon.
Not that they knew what a typewriter was. All they knew was that the particularly annoyed looking dragon spirit was strong.
Stronger than both of the cultivators, but inhibited by his mission to protect Dain and Natalie.
The young cultivator tried speaking. "Please move out of the way senior, we don't want to get you involved lest you get hurt for-"
"-FUCK NAH! I ain't listening to no silver spoon brat" The spirit roared, clearly annoyed by the pair, having just been woken up to deal with the problem at hand, and feeling a little bit lost..
The brat's face darkened as he threatened. "Do you know who my father is!? My father is Yu Kong, a pinnacle spirit transformation cultivator! Step out of the way and you can leave with your life."
The servant stepped in, nervous, but trying his best, knowing the young master's temperament. "My apologies sir, the young master is just a young boy, he knows not what he is doing!" he pleaded, only for the spirit to snort.
"If we can call nascent soul cultivators "young boys" then what does that make those of the third level? Infants? What does that say about your young master?"
"Hah! Who cares! My father is coming now, and you'll be no math for him!" the boy retorted disdainfully, causing the spirit to wonder if he should just drop the machine
But then a voice sounded, and a presence like the sky itself descended, causing both master and servant to collapse to their knees, gasping for breath.
OH? I'm quite curious then.
How he'll react once he finds you after I'm through with you
The voice had a teasing tone, yet the threat of death loomed over them, their lives hanging in the balance.