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Moments before Asher awoke from the Rune of Eirdin, the beast continued to stare at him.

However, his body still required rest, and Asher fell asleep shortly after showering.

Red energy started to emanate from the beast.

[ ?!? is restricted from using its full powers ]

[ ?!? is Soul Linked to the Host ]

The snake stared as purple runes resembling shackles appeared beneath the shadow-like energy.

The snake turned as it sensed a powerful life force rivaling its own existence.

Though it was sealed deep within, it could sense the force, just as the powerful entity sensed it.

[ ?!? used Level 100 Authority ]

The shackles around the beast loosened as it stared at Asher.

"So, he is my master," it spoke in a strange language.

[ ?!? is using its last power before full restriction ]

[ Are you sure you want to proceed? ]

A mark appeared on Asher's back as the shackles around the beast grew stronger and tighter.

[ Sealing ?!?'s memories until the Host reaches Level 100 ]

[ ?!? is separating itself from the System ]

[ ?!? is reducing itself to Level 1 ]

"I shall acknowledge you for now," the beast spoke in a strange language as it disappeared, transforming into a strange, shadow-like energy that returned to his arm.

***

"You can talk?" Asher stared at the strange snake before him.

He had never encountered a monster intelligent enough to communicate with other beings.

Yet, oddly, he heard the snake's words in his mind, despite it not speaking aloud.

[Host can communicate with it as it was formed by the System]

[ Unlike normal beasts, it can communicate with the Host]

While Asher read these notifications, he noticed the snake also turn its head to examine them.

"Can you read them?" Asher asked the snake.

"...I...can.." The beast responded to Asher through telepathy.

[ It is possible because the beast is part of the System]

The System informed Asher.

Asher reached out to touch the beast, hoping to confirm something.

But he felt nothing when his hand contacted the shadow-like energy surrounding the beast.

It was as if his sense of touch had disappeared.

[ The beast has its own abilities, and that is one of them ]

"What exactly are you?" Asher asked the beast, turning to face it.

His killing intent began to seep out, and the snake sensed it, but it stared back at Asher without showing any fear.

Asher amplified his killing intent, focusing on the beast, but received no response.

"...Don't..know," Asher heard the telepathic voice of the snake.

The voice was similar to a boy's but didn't sound like human speech. Yet, despite the odd language, Asher understood it.

[ Host can understand the language due to the telepathic connection between the Host and the beast ]

"..What...am...I?" The snake questioned Asher.

[ What would you like to name the beast ]

Asher saw the notification soon after hearing the snake's question.

"Rifir," Asher said after considering for a few seconds.

"..Rifir...," he heard the snake's voice again.

[ Rifir - Level 1 ]

| Species - Serpent |

| Abilities - Locked |

| Passive - Perfect Conceal |

Asher saw the details about the snake, but unlike his, most of its abilities were locked.

"So, how will you level up?" Asher asked the System.

"..Hungry.." Instead of the System, Asher heard Rifir's voice.

[ Unlike the Host, Rifir will need to consume other beings, but his consumption has its limits ]

"What limits?" Asher asked.

He was strangely invested in the beast that he had just encountered. It was the first time he had met an entity that had not reacted to his killing intent.

[ Mana Gems. Only such a high-potency source of energy will help him Level Up ]

[ It can level up from defeating and consuming monster corpses, but only if they contain mana gems in their bodies ]

Asher stared back at the snake, which continued to stare at him.

"How do I unsummon it?" Asher asked.

[ The Host can simply think the instruction in your head and try to communicate it with the bonded beast ]

'Go back,' Asher thought, and he watched the serpent disappear.

Shadow energy flooded back to his arm, forming a snake tattoo, which quickly vanished without a trace.

"Is that his ability?" Asher asked the System.

[ Yes, Perfect Conceal allows it to completely hide its existence until the Host wishes for it to reappear ]

[ The Host will need to properly nurture the beast for it to reveal its full potential ]

"Where does it come from?" Asher asked.

[ Not enough Authority]

[ Level 90 Authority Required ]

It was the next change that occurred in the System, and Asher noticed it.

"Why was I chosen as your Host?" Asher asked.

[ Level 80 Authority Required ]

"Who is the Goddess of Time," Asher asked,

[ Level 80 Authority Required ]

'So this beast is even more intriguing than the Goddess of Time, whoever she may be,' Asher mused.

'Level 40, wasn't it?' Asher recalled that the first Authority would open at Level 40.

[ Depending on the Host's knowledge, the Authority may change ]

Asher saw another notification, but it was currently irrelevant to him. Most of the questions he wanted answers to pertained to topics he knew little about.

But there was one thing that he did know.

"Do you know about the Black Dungeons?" Asher asked the System.

[ Level 40 Authority Required ]

"Do you know why Dungeons appeared?" Asher asked a question that many sought answers to.

[ The System doesn't know about it ]

[ No information regarding this was added to the System]

Asher stood up and left the meditation room, intending to take a shower before doing anything else.

While Asher had just reached C- Rank, Alyssa was struggling to reach D Rank.

Having recently achieved D- Rank, she was eager to train further.

"This is not enough," Alyssa murmured, looking into the mirror.

She didn't wear her mask in her room, allowing her to see her unscarred face.

"It's not enough to kill them," she said, touching the mirror as her reflection reminded her of her mother.

Now that her body had healed, she could perceive mana more clearly. Although her performance during the First Awakening was unremarkable, her current speed matched Asher's, who used his abnormal bloodline ability.

In the past, her mana meridians were irreparably damaged. However, with the help of the SSS Rank Elixir, she had completely recovered, and for the first time in her life, she could use mana without further harming her body.

***

The following morning, Asher was practicing his sword art.

He stopped when he received a notification from Eric, the son of his Head Butler, Stephen.

<Eric: Young Master, strange rumors about you are spreading among the First and Second Year Students>

Asher read the message and instantly knew who was responsible.

He responded to Eric's message, instructing him to continue reporting such occurrences.

The first class on Space Element was happening today, and Asher planned to attend it.

The first class was set to begin, so apart from Alyssa, only a few other students curious about the space element were expected to attend.

Asher left the tenth floor and arrived in the lobby room, which was empty.

He exited the Ranker's Dorm and headed towards the Mage Arts Block. The class will begin an hour from now. However, there was another place he wanted to visit before going to class.

He was heading towards the Free Area, where most first-year students would roam before and after their classes. It was a vast area filled with special flowers, and the environment had been designed to help students relax.

But it was also famous for another reason.

Since this area was only meant for students, it had become the perfect place for certain people.

"Didn't I tell you that I need you to collect GP from your friends?" a green-haired boy demanded, his hands gripping the hair of the first-year boy he was talking to.

"B-But they refused. It's not my fault--" The first-year boy tried to speak, but Gavin punched him in the face.

"Are my words a joke to you?" Gavin started digging his nails into the arm of the first-year student, causing blood to seep out.