As the notification subsided, the mystical glow emanating from Theo's body didn't fade. Nearby, the persistent chanting of "Rise... Rise... Rise..." from Abyssal Eternal Bloom ceased abruptly, and she, too, began to radiate light. The ground in front of the creature lit up, matching her luminance.
Startled by the commotion, Lilith awoke from her slumber, her eyes widening as she watched the surreal scene unfolding. Her farmer boy, along with Abyssal Eternal Bloom and the Radiant Yggdrasil tree seed planted in the earth, were all aglow in a deep, crimson hue.
The creature's eyes remained shut, lost in transformation, while Theo looked on, his eyes wide with amazement as the ground before them trembled and shifted.
From the very ground where the seed lay, a sprout rapidly emerged and grew, unfurling into the majestic form of the Radiant Yggdrasil tree, reclaiming its former grandeur with breathtaking speed.
Beside the newly reborn tree, Abyssal Eternal Bloom underwent her own remarkable transformation. She grew slightly, now standing at five feet two inches. Her strawberry-shaded hair-like strands morphed, becoming indistinguishable from human hair. Her skin tone, previously a soft green, lightened to a pale hue, closer to Lilith’s own complexion.
The transformations didn’t stop there. The duo watched in awe as the borders of the farm itself began to expand at an incredible rate. The bone fences that once marked the farm’s limits were now pushed significantly farther out, indicating the farm had expanded vastly.
"This... is incredible," Lilith murmured in disbelief, watching as the farm and its inhabitants transformed under the night sky.
As the crimson light finally began to fade, Theo's attention was drawn to a series of notifications appearing before him.
<<<<
[Abyssal Eternal Bloom has absorbed a massive amount of accumulated life essence]
[Alert: Abyssal Eternal Bloom is undergoing evolution.]
[Transformation Complete. Abyssal Eternal Bloom has evolved into a Platinum Grade Beast.]
[Abyssal Eternal Bloom has advanced to Rank 1.]
[Abyssal Eternal Bloom has ascended to Rank 2.]
.
.
[Abyssal Eternal Bloom has advanced to Rank 10.]
[Complete the Class Advancement Quest to unlock further absorption capabilities for both yourself and the Abyssal Eternal Bloom, allowing for evolution and synchronization beyond the current limits.]
>>>>
As expected, with the partial lifting of the Origin Master's seal through the Heart's Echo, the absorption limit of life essence for Theo's Guardian Beast was also lifted, propelling her instantly to the platinum rank.
When she was a gold rank beast, she had already demonstrated formidable strength, capable of single-handedly confronting the first year’s students during the expedition. Now, as a platinum rank beast, Theo was curious about the extent of her enhanced powers. To assess her upgraded capabilities, he accessed her profile to review the updated stats.
<<<<
[Name: Abyssal Eternal Bloom]
[Race: Mystic Bloom]
[Elemental Affinity: Abyssal, Nature]
[Sentience: Advanced Sentience]
[Grade: Platinum]
[Rank: 10]
[Alert: Massive Amount of Life Essence Accumulated. Absorption Limit Reached.]
>>>>
The term Advanced Sentience caught Theo's attention, indicating that his guardian beast's cognitive abilities were now significantly enhanced, approaching human-like levels of thought and communication.
Just then, the Abyssal Eternal Bloom opened her eyes, meeting Theo's gaze. She parted her lips, attempting to speak. "I want food…" she uttered.
Theo’s astonishment shifted into amusement; the creature's priorities remained unchanged even with her advance sentience.
"Why are you not feeding her?" Lilith asked, her tone laced with curiosity as she observed the interaction.
At that moment, Theo saw Lilith in a new light, recalling the character from the diary. ‘The girl from the diary, her personality... so much like Lilith, but she is Liliana. Could there be a connection between them?’ He pondered silently before responding to Lilith's inquiry.
"She only eats beasts, and we don’t have any here," Theo explained, hoping it would suffice.
However, the Abyssal Eternal Bloom shook her head, a clear sign of disagreement.
Lilith raised an eyebrow at the creature's response, prompting Theo to clarify further. "I’ve tried offering her fruits and vegetables from the farm, but she refuses them."
Lilith looked expectantly at the Abyssal Eternal Bloom for an explanation.
"I cannot eat from the Demonic farm; it feels like a part of me." the creature elaborated, her voice surprisingly articulate, revealing the depth of her advanced sentience.
Both Theo and Lilith were taken aback by her clear and coherent sentence, revealing her evolved intelligence.
"I want food..." the Abyssal Eternal Bloom repeated, her gaze fixed on Lilith with an expectant look.
Responding to her plea, Lilith reached into her spatial bracelet and pulled out a dessert. She offered a donut to the Abyssal Eternal Bloom, who eagerly accepted it, chewing rapidly and devouring it in seconds.
Looking up at Lilith expectantly, the creature implored, "I want more…"
Theo watched as Lilith fed the Abyssal Eternal Bloom, who now resembled a young woman rather than a humanoid creature. Lilith’s actions were gentle, reminiscent of someone caring for a cherished pet.
Internally, Theo wrestled with his thoughts. 'I'm curious about her past, about how long she was confined in those chains in the basement, but it’s too abrupt and perhaps too painful to bring up now. And mentioning Liliana might only complicate matters further. It's better I uncover the truth on my own.'
As Lilith continued to provide an assortment of treats from her spatial storage, Theo distracted himself by checking his own profile.
<<<<
[Name: Theo Leywin]
[Race: Half Human - ???]
[Class: Novice Shadow Farmer]
[Elemental Affinity: Abyssal]
[Elemental Affinity Grade: ???]
[Bloodline Ability: Leywin's Gaze]
[Special Ability: Magic Nullification]
[Circle Rank: 40]
[Evolved Rings: 4]
[Ring Rank: 0]
[Abyssal Energy: 6000]
[Strength: 16+(60)]
[Defense: 100]
[Agility: 16+(60)]
[Stamina: 25]
[Intelligence: 4]
[Precision: 211]
[Mental Power: 21*]
[Perception: 216*]
[Wisdom: 11*]
[Charisma: 22*]
[Luck: 18*]
[Unused Stat Points: 33]
>>>>
To his surprise, his circle rank had increased by ten levels, though restrictions still halted his full potential.
‘What would my circle rank be if these restrictions were fully lifted?’ he wondered, allocating his newly acquired stats points—twenty in defense, four each in agility and strength, and the remaining five in stamina.
He then turned his attention to his farm, which had expanded by ten acres, providing him with significant new land to cultivate.
Theo called softly, "Lilith..." His gaze was fixed on the far edge of the farm near the bone fences.
Lilith, momentarily taken aback by Theo addressing her directly by name instead of using the title 'Demoness,' followed the direction of his pointed finger. There, the previously locked arcane gate now flickered with a dark light.
"Is it activated?" Lilith asked, her voice tinged with hope.
Theo nodded and gestured for her to lead the way. Together with the Abyssal Eternal Bloom trailing behind, they approached the arcane gate.
Standing before it, Theo issued a mental command, and the gate responded—its dark, shadowy edges shimmered more intensely as it swung open, revealing a pathway to the unknown.
Lilith stepped closer, "Let’s see where this leads us," she said, stepping through the gate with Theo by her side.
As they crossed the arcane gate, they found themselves in a place unlike any other. Before them stretched the Obsidian Forest, its trees towering high with trunks made of glossy black obsidian.
The dark leaves, filled with a shadowy aura, rustled softly in a wind. Above them, a moon hung in the sky, its pale light illuminating the landscape with a glow. Flickering crystals scattered throughout the forest floor cast soft, multicolored lights.
"It's beautiful," Lilith murmured, her eyes wide with wonder.
Theo, however, felt thick abyssal energy swirling around them. He murmured, "So this is the Abyssal Realm?"
Lilith turned to him with questioning eyes, "How do you know?"
"It was written in its description when the Arcane Gate became unlocked," Theo replied, his gaze wandering around, feeling a strange connection to the place. "It feels... familiar, in a way."
Beside them, Abyssal Eternal Bloom moved silently, her eyes glowing faintly in the darkness. She seemed perfectly at ease here, as if this shadowy realm was her natural habitat.
As they ventured deeper into the forest, the path was illuminated by flickering crystals that cast dancing shadows on the ground. The forest was mostly silent, except for the occasional rustle of leaves and the distant calls of unseen creatures.
"This place is strange," Theo murmured softly, scanning their surroundings. "It feels like it's alive, watching us."
Lilith nodded, her expression serious. "We need to be cautious."
They continued their journey, each step taking them further into the heart of the Obsidian Forest.
The moon above them cast its ghostly light, and the flickering crystals continued to guide their path. In the midst of the unknown, they walked together, curious to explore the Abyssal Realm.
As they walked deeper into the Obsidian Forest, the atmosphere grew intensely quiet.
Suddenly, a rustling sound erupted from the underbrush, and a four-meter-long serpent made of obsidian crystal slithered into their path. Its eyes glowed with a sinister light as it fixed its gaze on them.
Before they could react, the serpent lunged, its crystalline maw opening wide to devour them.
Theo instinctively teleported out of harm's way. As he looked back, he noticed Lilith was still directly in the serpent's path, surprisingly not using her teleportation skill.
"Lilith, move!" Theo shouted, his voice tinged with urgency and panic.