Max's heart raced in his chest as the wild boar stood before him, its bristling body now still. The creature's eyes, once filled with primal rage, had softened. It sniffed the air, its wildness fading as the connection between them solidified. Max took a deep breath, feeling the residual magic of his Tame Creature ability still crackling through his fingertips. He had done it. The boar, a fierce, untamed beast, was now his.
But Max knew this was just the beginning. The bond was fragile, a mere thread connecting him to the beast. He had tamed it, yes, but that didn't mean it would stay tame. He would need to earn its loyalty, to prove that he could be trusted. His power was not one of brute force or sheer dominance — it was a power of connection. He could feel the boar's primal instincts still lingering, its strength, its ability to rebel. The next step would be to build trust.
As he stood there, the boar continued to watch him, its large, dark eyes filled with suspicion, but also curiosity. Max extended his hand toward the creature once more, careful to show no signs of fear or hesitation. Slowly, the boar stepped forward and sniffed his palm, its nose cold against his skin. Max's heart thudded in his chest. This was the moment. The boar nuzzled his hand, accepting his touch, and for a brief second, Max felt a spark of connection. The creature was his.
"Good," Max whispered, his voice barely audible. "You're mine now."
Max withdrew his hand and stepped back, his body trembling with the exertion of the magic he had just used. He had tamed it, yes, but now came the real test. He needed to train the boar, to shape it, to make it a companion rather than a wild beast. He knew the journey ahead wouldn't be easy.
Max stood silently for a moment, observing the boar's movements. The creature was still wild, but it was no longer a threat. It had become a part of him, albeit a reluctant one. Max had already learned one valuable lesson: Tame first, then bond.
Max's mind, still buzzing from the efforts of his taming, began to focus on the familiar sensation of his status screen — it was something he'd learned to access after the Revelation Rite. When he had tamed the wild boar, he could feel a shift within himself, a subtle change in his very essence. It wasn't just that his bond with the creature was growing — something else had happened.
As he opened his status screen, his eyes were drawn to the numbers under his stats, which now seemed a little different. Strength was a bit higher. Dexterity was a fraction of a point increased. And his intelligence seemed more sharp, focused. It wasn't much, but there was something tangible there.
[System Alert]
New Skill Unlocked: Beastborne Enhancement
With the successful taming of powerful creatures, your bond strengthens and your natural affinity for beasts increases. This grants a passive boost to your physical and mental stats based on the creatures you tame. The stronger the creature, the greater the enhancement.
Max blinked, reading the notification with growing realization. He hadn't expected this, not so soon. He felt a shift in his body as the new skill activated — his strength felt a little more substantial, his reflexes a bit sharper. The bond he had formed with the wild boar, a creature known for its toughness, seemed to have granted him an increase in Strength and Endurance. He could feel the effects right away, his body now subtly changed, more attuned to the natural forces he was manipulating.
Max glanced at the wild boar. It wasn't just his bond with the creature that had increased his stats; his Beastborne Enhancement skill was working in tandem with the creature's power. The more powerful the creatures he tamed, the stronger he would become.
Seeking Guidance: The Next Step
As the sun began to dip beneath the horizon, Max felt the pull of something deeper within him. Biomancer of the Bound Flesh. The class he had received wasn't just a tool for taming creatures — it was a gateway to something far greater. The more he thought about it, the more he realized the true power he wielded. Synthesis. The very idea of fusing creatures together, of creating new life, sent a thrill through him. But there was so much he didn't understand. He needed guidance.
Max couldn't shake the feeling that he was not alone in this journey, that others had walked this path before him. He needed to learn from those who had mastered taming and creation.
He knew the best place to seek guidance was the Seers. The mystical scholars who had presided over the Revelation Rite could help him understand his class better. Though they had no knowledge of his Biomancer of the Bound Flesh class, Max knew that they had expertise in taming, as their work often overlapped with the teachings of the Beast Master class. If anyone could help him, it was them.
The Seers' Temple
Max arrived at the Seers' Temple just before dusk, the large stone structure looming against the sky like an ancient sentinel. The Temple of the Seers was a place of both power and mystery, a towering building filled with scrolls and relics passed down from generation to generation. The air around the temple felt different, charged with magic, as if the very stones held ancient secrets waiting to be discovered.
Max stepped through the grand archway, the cool, musty air inside greeting him like an old friend. The temple was quiet, its vast chambers filled with the quiet hum of magical energy. He made his way through the halls, searching for Sethis, the head Seer who had overseen his Revelation Rite. The old man had looked at him with a mixture of curiosity and wariness, as though Max's class was a puzzle that even he couldn't solve.
Max found Sethis in the farthest chamber of the temple, seated at a long wooden table covered in ancient scrolls. His deep blue robes seemed to shimmer with an ethereal light, and his silver beard framed his face like a crown of wisdom. Sethis looked up as Max entered, his piercing gaze narrowing slightly as he studied the young Biomancer.
"Maxiel," Sethis greeted him, his voice rich with the weight of centuries. "I thought you might return."
Max hesitated, his mind racing. "I... I need your help," he said, his voice steady but tinged with uncertainty. "I've tamed a wild boar. But I'm not sure what to do next. I have no idea how to continue."
Sethis raised an eyebrow. "You've already tamed one creature? Remarkable." He motioned for Max to sit across from him. "But what you ask is not simple. Your class, the Biomancer of the Bound Flesh, is unlike anything I've ever seen. It is not merely about taming creatures. It is about creating something new — fusing creatures together to make hybrids. You will need far more than just simple guidance. You will need to understand the beasts you tame in ways that go beyond the ordinary."
Max sat down, his hands clasped tightly in his lap. "I've been thinking about Creature Synthesis — how to combine my creatures into something more. But I don't know where to start. I've never seen anything like it."
Sethis leaned forward, his hands folded together. "There are many creatures in this world, Maxiel. But to tame and fuse them, you must first understand where they live, how they thrive. Your Beast Master predecessors often sought guidance from the Seers for such matters. They went to places where powerful creatures roamed: the Vyrn Mountains, home to the ancient dragons; the Brenna Swamps, where the hydras and serpents dwelled; the Barren Plains, where the legendary manticores lurked."
Max's heart quickened. The thought of taming such powerful, dangerous creatures made his heart race. Could he tame a manticore? Could he fuse it with something else?
Sethis continued, "The Beast Masters often sought the Seers' knowledge of where certain creatures were most likely to be found. If you wish to create hybrids of such creatures, you will need to travel to their habitats and find those with the qualities you need. But beware, Maxiel. Some of these creatures are not easily tamed, and even the most skilled tamers have perished attempting to subdue them."
Max nodded, absorbing the information. "Where do I start?"
Sethis hesitated. "I can guide you. There is an old Beast Master named Liora, who resides near the Vyrn Mountains. She has knowledge of the creatures there, and though she is not a Seer, she may be able to assist you in learning the finer points of taming these beasts. I suggest you seek her out."
Max stood, his resolve solidifying. "I will. Thank you, Sethis."
Sethis smiled, though there was an edge of caution in his eyes. "Be careful, Maxiel. Your class is one of great potential, but it is also one that carries great responsibility. Do not let your creations become your masters."