Mei Wu looked at the Grimoire that Ai was holding in her hand, the words of her lover still ringing in her head as she stood still for nearly half a minute.

"C-contract the Grimoire? Ai'er, you want me to..." the shock in her body was still strong, and she almost felt like fainting from it. Mei Wu knew that Ai fully understood the implications of what the alraune was asking.

Grimoires, artifacts so ancient that were rumored to be created by deities to help humans grow stronger to compete with the usually more powerful beasts and other races, and the benefits they gave were far larger than merely allowing a warrior to contract a lot of beasts without wasting a lot of space, since summoning crystals could be stolen in some cases, while the Grimoire, once contracted, only belonged to the contractor and could not be stolen.

No, the biggest benefits contracting a Grimoire has are two things that were truly desired by many.

First; the contractor would get an Inherent Skill bestowed to them, which is usually a skill highly unique to them, and could usually shape their skillset. Though of course, it wouldn't be strange for some people, like specific families, to have similar inherent skills, and some might gain an inherent skill that isn't really that hard to get naturally by training.

Secondly, one would get a Guardian Beast, a contracted beast that unlike almost all others, would be immortal in the sense that even if killed, they would regenerate after some time, and even more importantly, these beasts are absolutely loyal to the Grimoire owner. Even more, it was stated that as long as the master's power grew stronger, or the level of the Grimoire increased, the Guardian Beast would get stronger as well.

There are also rewards for increasing the rank of one's Grimoire, and it was proven that winning or surviving difficult battles would even give rewards for the Grimoire owner, from more pages to contract more beasts, a level up to a skill, or even a new beast given as a gift for showing such skill and determination even against death.

With these benefits, it won't be strange to say that a Grimoire was a godsend artifact that would cause one's progress to increase by leaps and bounds. And now, Mei Wu was given the choice to attempt making a contract.

She bit her lips as she kept looking at the book, and Ai's resolute expression, and she just knew that she must at least try.

'Last time I attempted many times to contract a Grimoire years ago, I couldn't do it.' she remembered what happened years ago, back when she was nothing but a slave in name only while she was a part of the Xie clan.

Back then, she tried to contract a Grimoire, as many of the disciples and clansmen did, but she failed like most did. She even attempted to do so every few months, hoping that she would get one, yet she just couldn't.

Just because one was a warrior, didn't mean that they would be able to own a Grimoire, nor when they would be able to. Some people could contract a Grimoire from when they were eight or nine, while others won't be able to, even in their thirties.

Mei Wu thought that would be her fate, when it came to these priceless artifacts, that she would never get one. And now, she was asked to attempt it one more time, and she knew that she must at least try. If she did not make the contract today, that's it. She and Ai would do the other methods to train and grow stronger instead.

But if she didn't even try right now, how would she know the difference it could make in the very possible fight against anyone that could harm them? She changed. Ai helped her change and grow stronger. If she rejected the attempt right now, then what would that mean to all the progress that she was making?

With a trembling hand, she reached towards it, a strange sensation filling her heart that she couldn't truly notice as anxiety and determination rose inside her very being, and her fingers made contact.

And golden light engulfed the chamber, so intense she had to shield her eyes with her other hand as she felt Ai do the same. It felt like she would be blinded if she dared to open her eyes, yet she strangely felt absolute certainty that nothing would happen to her.

From within, she felt as if something dormant in her soul had awakened, knowledge so vast as a sea seemed to enter her mind as she understood them, yet at the same time, it was as if she couldn't comprehend them at all, a sea of confusion where everything in her mind seemed to clear, yet so obscure.

Slowly, the light disappeared, and Mei Wu felt herself falling from the shock of it all. She still couldn't believe that it happened even if all her senses told her that this was real. The Grimoire, once a seemingly useless book due to it being inert, now had become a part of her, like an extra limb but not exactly.

"...an! Wu-chan! You did it!" Ai's voice, brimming with awe and happiness awoke her from her dazed state, and she found herself glomped by the enthusiastic alraune's human body. "You now became a Ranker (summoner)! I'm so happy for you!"

"I... I did that? I actually did...? I'm- I'm so..." she felt like crying at what just happened. To think that she could actually succeed in this single step! It felt marvelous!

But before the tears would start pouring from their eyes, the Grimoire floated, catching their attention. As if by magic, it moved towards Mei Wu, and fell gently next to her.

"I, I guess it wants me to see my Guardian Beast and Inherent Skill?" Mei Wu asked aloud as she felt the connection to the book. It felt more like a question directed at herself, honestly.

"Okay, then!" Ai, clearly filled with giddiness, separated herself from her lover, and Mei Wu picked up the book, opening it.

The first page had a portrait of her face, which was smiling. She wondered if that smile was what she had on her face when Ai did something that made her feel happy, because she couldn't imagine herself smiling like that before she met this insufferable yet lovable alraune.

"Lovely smile that you have here~!"

"Yeah." feeling her face flushing at the genuine praise, she looked at the line below the portrait, and she raised her eyebrows.

"Strange..."

Her level, as written in the Grimoire, was a Level 1 Beginner [Apprentice], which was of course very wrong, since she had reached the level of a |Hero], the third rank in the summoning ranks.

"Hm, I think it means that your summoning skills are that of an [Apprentice], not your actual power." Ai spoke, and of course, it made sense.

"So basically, as a warrior, I'm at the level of a [Hero], but my summoning skills leave much to be desired, since I literally just started." Mei Wu sighed, an action that resulted in her lover putting a hand over her shoulders as a supportive gesture, and she smiled at that.

"Though the description of an Apprentice isn't really flattering..." she said with a nerveous and baffled look.

Apprentice: You are the weakest existence in this world, the equivalent to an ant or lower, but with hard work, as a Grimoire user, you still have hope to become stronger than the common garbage one casually throws away while walking outside.

"Ouch, that really stings. Also, what kind of description is that? Whoever wrote or programmed it into the Grimoires must really have a low opinion of Grimoire owners, if not the entire human race as a whole. Or maybe the idea of depending on summons at all." Ai visibly cringed at that.

"Yeah, they must be the so-called Innate Goddess you want to become." Mei Wu said humorously, still not forgetting the 'ambition' the green-haired woman had when one silly advice accidentally gave Mei Wu an epiphany, before she turned the page.

Both blinked in shock when they saw Mei Wu's Inherent Skill and Guardian Beast, and honestly, Mei Wu didn't know what to say as the descriptions and images were as clear as day.

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On the page of where the description of her Inherent Skill was, there was a strange design of a fancy Mandala. The description felt honestly ridiculous yet strangely fitting.

Tumor Mandala: your energy is the poison that induces and augments the impurities in your enemies' energies for as long as they are less than five meters away from you, weakening and crushing them under your feet. Distance and power will increase with each increase of your or its level. Currently at Level 1.

"Okay, what the hell is this?" she muttered. "First, I have the Apoptosis part where I degrade or lower my opponent's Qi, and now I can basically make their power impure and potentially lethal for them to use?"

"Sounds like a lot of fun, though! Malignant Tumor Apoptosis, that was the name of your cultivation technique, Wu-chan." Mei Wu felt the sheer glee and excitement that Ai exuded as she looked at the page.

"Now, if you grow strong, you might even put the 'Malignant' part in use too."

Oh, that would be highly effective, indeed.

"But let's not get ahead of ourselves. Let's see my Guardian Beast then..." even so, Mei Wu couldn't hold her excitement as she grinned, her eyes locking at the other page, where her beast's image was supposed to be.

What met them was the image of a... what?

"What, what is that...?" Ai asked, in confusion, not that Mei Wu was any better, as they saw the... portrait of the strange creature that looked like a bunch of intersecting circles, white and black.

"I have no idea." Mei Wu confessed, "I know that Guardian Beasts could be as bizarre and fantastic as other beasts, if not even more so, but I haven't seen a beast like this before. Let's see its description..."

Impurity Eater: Special-type. Formless. Normal-ranked Level 1. A beast that feeds on the impurities in the energy in its domain, according to the nature of the target's Qi. Can enhance the purity of one's Qi inside its domain. Is able to expand up to 10 meters.

"Wu-chan... I think you might have to tone down your Apoptosis theme choices..."

Mei Wu looked blankly at her lover at that wry remark. "I will try." came her amused answer, before she shook her head and became serious.

"So that's my Guardian Beast, huh... I already feel its call and wanting me to summon it. You think that the reason I couldn't contract a Grimoire is because I was so uncertain of myself before? That I didn't realize my cultivation style before?" she asked the alraune who only shrugged.

"I have no idea. You yourself said that some people contracted a Grimoire while they were only eight years old. Pretty sure no child would be fully certain of their identities, in most cases. Maybe they were just compatible from the get-go, while some needed to be stronger or have a sturdier foundation or whatever? Either that, or they had their meridians unlocked that early or something."

Honestly, these theories made a lot of sense. Genes and bloodlines have a role in determining one's potential, as much as support and resources do, from what Mei Wu experienced, especially with the stronger rankers since they were almost always either born into a clan, or had a sect nurturing them, or an influencial figure backing them up.

But, focusing on herself and the current situation, Mei Wu mentally commanded the Grimoire to vanish, and it did so. The connection was always there, deep in her mind, and she just needed to access it.

"What are you doing?" Ai asked her, raising an eyebrow.

"Trying to hone my skill to summon my Grimoire, it would be bad if I wasn't experienced enough in it and I couldn't summon it quickly in battle." she answered as she chanted.

She tried to visualize summoning the Grimoire, and she managed to summon it, but only after nearly half a minute, and she panted. It felt exhausting to concentrate that much!

"I- I did it... but damn, it's so mentally taxing. I will need to be used to it and get better." she said, only to be surprised when she saw the frown on Ai's face, and the Qi of plants and nature was feeling happy at her success yet... disappointed and worried?

"Ai'er?"

"... Not good at all. Even though I'm proud and happy about your success, it's definitely, not good at all. Mere seconds could mean the difference between life and death in battle. Thirty seconds is just too slow." the response, while praising her effort, was highly critical.

Mei Wu understood the point, but it wasn't like one can just master a difficult skill they just learned, and Grimoire summoning was one difficult skill. Most rankers can only use chants to summon their Grimoires, while advanced ones could do it chantless and in less time.

To that, Ai just scoffed, handwaving the whole argument with a sense of uncaring apathy that honestly made Mei Wu look at her in surprise.

"Hah! Wu-chan, you're acting so silly again. Chantless summoning is hard? Instant Grimoire summoning is in the realm of experts? Such a pointless argument! Wu-chan, I think you didn't forget, right? I promised that I would give you a training arc for us to get stronger!"

The conviction in the alraune's tone was so strong Mei Wu felt like the plants were about to go for war. It was that strong, and got even more so when Ai's eyes gazed into Mei Wu's.

Mei Wu felt as if her heart sped up. Isn't this mental strength, this compassion and desire to help her, a part of why she fell in love with this beautiful and gentle beast?

"If you growing stronger meant breaking all conventional definition of 'genius' and 'talented' as the world knows them, then so be it! We still have some three hours before we meet the Queen Bee once more to tell her what you know about these elders, so we will use that time to hone your Grimoire summoning skill as best as we could. Then tonight, you will try your guardian beast, then..."

Kasumi Ai's voice that was confident, took a slightly shy tone at the end, and her cheeks reddened, "hehe... dual cultivation with you, my beloved..."

Heat exploded in Mei Wu's face at that. She really did not want a reminder of that right now!

"Ai'er!" she shouted in embarrassment, "you can't just make it sound as if... that... is a good motivational method!"

Even if it was highly tempting. Her body ached for more hugs, and even kisses! Ai was admittedly one hell of a kisser- No! Not the point! She chided herself.

Ai's mood immediately changed, as she immediately pouted childishly at her, face still red as even the monstrous body of her lover was attempting to make such a look, which only looked way creepier than if it was grinning.

"Fine, since you're trying to be such a pessimist, I will increase the bargain! Every time you summon your Grimoire and try your best, I reward you with a kiss on the cheek!"

How can she say it with such confidence!? Even with all the embarrassment Mei Wu sensed in Ai, the alraune was more proud and even more determined to actually do that!

"Ai'er! That's just awkward! That- that's not even a good motivation in the first place!"

"Of course it is." Mei Wu found herself facing the 'Are you joking?' bored look, "I'm pretty sure most men would say something like how they would defy the heavens if they could look at a pair of boobs or sleep with a woman, and maybe even get a power up! And here, your girlfriend is being supportive, and rewarding you even for failed attempts, and you think it's ridiculous? Does the power of love seem that weak to you?"

Okay, now this was getting ridiculous. And her lover even went all the way and fake-cried at the end!

Her sheer disbelief of what was happening was clearly visible on Mei Wu's face, as Kasumi Ai's mood changed, still mock-sad, but now there was a contemplative side to it... one that Mei Wu felt her skin crawl when she sensed it.

Because she remembered this sensation very well. This mix of teasing desire, amusement and sadism. The same one when Ai decided that they would have a so-called training arc.

It was then that she knew that Ai was determined to drag her into whatever idea of training the alraune wanted, and that rejecting would not be allowed. And this time, the idea of making Mei Wu train was even more prominent!

Turns out that an upgrade to one's love life might not always be positive...

"But, I fully understand you, Wu-chan..." Ai said with a voice that was so fake in the sadness it conveyed it bordered on parody, as she created a single rose with thorns in her arm. "I should have known that at times, a training arc with only benefits would not be accepted, and would be even taken for granted. Just like giving one a beautiful rose without any thorns attached to it wouldn't make them appreciate how stinging it could be. That's why, I should add a punishment for you for every time you fail to show progress..."

Mei Wu sweated nervously, and she unconsciously stepped back. This... this was Kasumi Ai, the whimsically sadistic alraune, in all her inconsistent yet headache-inducing glory. And now that the two were in love, she would be even stricter with her rare instances of 'tough love' attitude.

"Ai'er? Ai'er! Stop! I'm pleading you! I can feel what you're preparing and I don't like it one bit!" Mei Wu yelled, even if in her heart, she wondered if the last part was true at all. She doubted that Ai would do something truly terrible to her... just something probably so embarrassing she'd wish she could hide in a hole for the rest of her life.

Not that it made a lot of difference in the pink-haired woman's eyes, knowing what kind of humor the alraune had, and what kind of an alraune she was right now.

"Wu-chan, remember when we first talked to each other, and you glomped me in your excitement and I got irritated? Do you remember how I warned you back then to watch out for your excitement? Remember what I promised to do, if you did that again, back then?" as she spoke, Ai's expression changed from an imitation of a sad face, to that of a grinning sadist.

Mei Wu stilled at that. "Wait... do... do you mean...!?" her eyes widened as she remembered that particular conversation. It wasn't even hard to remember, since it happened nearly a mere month before.

"Ai'er... please say that you won't do that to your love, right? C-come on... you're just joking about... spanking me, right?" she stepped back, but Ai stepped forward, her vines moving ominously behind the alraune, who kept grinning even as her face grew redder. Mei Wu couldn't know if it was because of the embarrassment at the idea, or her sexual nature.

"R-right!?" Mei Wu was desperate at the moment.

"Wu-chan, please, summon your Grimoire. You have thirty seconds." and thus, came the judgement, as sweet as honey, yet even scarier than one can imagine.

'Oh, heavens are so unfair! I hate you! And I hate the fact that I'm not as terrified about this as I should be!' Mei Wu inwardly cried.

Why did fate throw this perverted alraune at her!? How cruel and strangely exciting!