When he regained his senses, Dante found Isaac staring at him. He felt his master's Qi pass through his core.

"So, you must have started the alignment with your monster, huh?" said Isaac. The master had seen that face too many times not to recognize it. The cultivator's first experience with the monster core was always unique.

Of course, not everyone could converse directly with the monster. The core, after all, held the essence of the monster. A monster that had no consciousness during life would not mysteriously gain consciousness after death. In Dante's case, Isaac bet that the monster would have no problem talking to the young cultivator.

Dante took some time before he could get his thoughts straight. If this kind of thing became frequent, he would have to rethink something so that his mind wouldn't suffer so much every time.

"Yes. At least, I think so. I was in a strange world, and the monster talked to me. He explained some things, but honestly there is still so much I don't know... He even mentioned that you and a kitten had something to say to me."

Soon after he finished speaking, Dante looked closely at his master's expression, searching for something that might indicate what this kitten thing represented. To his displeasure, he found only the unmoving face of Isaac.

"I have no idea what he is talking about. I advise you not to follow to the letter everything he asks of you. Ancient monsters can be peculiar," Isaac responded. It was not yet time to reveal about his monster to Dante. That would only confuse the boy, who already had a lot on his mind at the moment.

"After the advancement of Rim and Sabrina, I will give you some directions on how to improve your communication with the monster. Until then, I ask that you watch the two of them carefully. In these moments, a good insight can literally be worth gold."

What Isaac didn't say, however, was that usually initial communications with the monster were exchanges of feelings, at most. It was common for many to not even properly visualize the monster until they reached the platinum. It was good not to put too many expectations on the boy.

Isaac suspected that the phoenix had chosen Dante for a myriad of reasons. Most impressive was the adaptation of Dante's body to the suffering caused. There were many paths that used regeneration as a way to strengthen the body, but in this way... It was something new for Isaac.

"Dante, I'm going to ask you something very serious. No, not ask. I need you to promise me."

Dante felt a loop of Qi squeeze his heart. He strongly cogitated that he was participating in his first oath.

"Promise that you will not speak about that aloud until I allow you to. "

"I promise, master," Dante said, as he felt the seal being closed in his heart.

Although he didn't know the reason for it, he had gotten enough information from his master and his monster. Of course, later he would research more about the monster. There should not be that many phoenixes that used the energy of the sun in history.

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Isaac sighed, a little more reassured. He had no way of predicting what would happen, but it was of paramount importance that the world not yet knew about the new phoenix host. Ikarus Host. "Very well. Let's call it a day. After that kind of contact your Qi will became a little unstable for today."

As he stood up and walked out the door, Dante remembered something important. "Umm, master, we don't happen to have any smoked turkey meat around here, do we?"

In response, he earned two raised eyebrows in curiosity.

It seems that even feeding a legendary beast would not be something simple.

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During the last three days leading up to the advancement ceremony, Dante barely saw the others. Now, moments before the appointed time, he paced back and forth restlessly. Worse than not being sure what would happen, he was sure that he would not be able to help.

"Don't worry so much. Everything will be fine. In the last few days, Rim has managed to establish stable communication with her monster core. Sabrina too, despite the hardships. And Hector should be already a gold by now." Isaac stood next to Dante outside their rooms in which they cultivated.

According to Isaac, it was better that the ceremony was done the same day for both girls, as they had no more time to waste.

What really worried Dante was not Rim, but Sabrina. Although he didn't really know the practical meaning of having a monster core that wasn't that of a beast, but of a demon, he knew the theory. And it was not a pleasant one. Dante was not worried about Hector, too. The ice cultivator had been cultivating for the past few days, and had warned the group that he would pass his threshold later today.

"Will Sabrina do it? From what I've read about demons, they're usually aggressive. Have you ever seen any users gaining oversoul?" Dante asked.

Isaac pondered about what he should say to the boy. No, he had never seen a full ceremony of advancement to gold from a cultivator with a demon core, but he had also never seen a cultivator act so autonomously under those conditions. Normally, demon cores tied the user down. In exchange for power, there was a loss of free will.

"I believe in her, just as I believed in you. We'll be here if anything goes wrong," Isaac said, omitting part of the truth. Of course, the probability of either of them dying with him there was miniscule, but for young people with so much desire to progress, having their future neutered was a fate sometimes worse than death itself.

"Rim is the most stubborn person I've ever seen, and Sabrina one of the most persistent. I'm sure she won't want to miss the chance to get revenge on those who wronged her. I'm sure it will all work out," said Hector, who appeared from nowhere.

Dante couldn't help but notice that, despite his confident words, the atmosphere was a bit chilly. He had never seen Hector lose control.

"You have advanced!" shouted Dante. He could feel the difference clearly in his friend.

"Aye, aye. But let's wait so we can all celebrate together today," Hector replied. His shoulders were tense. His friends' ceremony had made him more nervous than his own.

"Well, it's time to get started. I'll let them start and stay out of the way so as not to get in the way of the ambient Qi. Hector, stay in the same room as Rim, and Dante in Sabrina's. It will do them good to have a friendly presence, and your Qi is not so strong as to hinder their progress in any way," Isaac said. It was time.

As requested, Dante opened the door to Sabrina's room, anxious. He didn't know what to expect. After all, he had never seen a spiritual treasure that exuded darkness.

He was surprised when, upon entering, he was met with absolute darkness. Not knowing which way to go, for a moment he considered creating flames so that he could get a glimpse of his surroundings.

The idea was fruitless. Soon he remembered that any interference with the ambient Qi could harm Sabrina, and this was definitely the thing he wanted least of all. Finding a wall, he encouraged himself to get a sense of the surroundings and prepared himself. No matter what, he would be there to help. Sabrina would not have to go through this alone.