Chapter 164: Familiars of Crimson Star Fang
A week had passed since Elton and company entered the abandoned city. Each of them focused primarily on healing their injuries while cultivating in between.
Every so often Tongsheng would go hunting in the nearby areas, mostly for Christy and Elton when it came to meats. The faery races, while capable of eating meat if necessary, were generally vegetarians. Surprisingly, there was actually a decent amount of herbs and vegetation suitable for consumption growing in this place. There were also plenty of treasured plants and resources—much to everyone's delight.
Elton was once more checking the conditions of his body. He was relieved to find that he was healing very rapidly, at a pace much faster and cleaner than before he had opened those two new special meridians.
"Could it be due to the cycle of Nature energy in the air moving in sync with the… let's call it the Nature Essence Meridian? And then there's the Blood Ki Meridian. It looks like the path I chose for that meridian was perfect. Body enhancement, which continuously strengthens my body as well as accelerates natural healing."
Elton couldn't help but be in awe as he clenched his fist, feeling stronger than ever even in the midst of recovering from his injuries.
"It looks like I've recovered enough to once again begin training and cultivating strenuously. Master Bluesonics told us to use what he called the Blue Flash Imperial Martial Method… continuous automatic adjusting magical weighted bands, boots, a belt, and an undershirt that he enchanted for our bodies."
He continued to recall the explanation given to him by that mysterious master.
When worn together, not only did the body become heavier with weights, but it also placed a heavy pressure on Ki and Magic, sealing them to an extent. This was effectively a limiter, allowing the wearer to utilize maybe 70% of their true power at most. In "Intense Mode," perhaps only 40%—or even less—of the wearer's power would be available.
Master Bluesonics claimed it was a very unconventional training method from a very distant land. He even stated that the true use of this method defies what it means to break through into different realms in this world, and that they would likely understand better once they crossed beyond the Master Realm.
After putting the weighted items on, Elton felt the difference instantly. His body became heavy and his movements somewhat restricted. Thankfully, he was already somewhat used to it, since Master Bluesonics had prepped them for these over a year ago with lesser versions of the weights. Once Elton gradually adapted to having them on again, he activated the enchantments, switching them into Intense Mode.
Once again the weights on his body grew heavier, and his power was much more restricted. He could feel the magical power and Ki in his body constantly activating while being restrained under the pressure, his teeth gritted in strain. Although discomfort weighed on him, Elton couldn't help but smile as he thought about his constantly elevating strength and potential in the future.
In the midst of moving about, he began to notice the fluctuations of his seven special meridians, especially the Blood Meridian. He realized that with this meridian, he would be able to train physically at a far more intense rate than ever before—which brought him great joy.
Initially, while Elton could say he was somewhat decent in physical aspects, in pure strength he was nothing special like Ramiro or various other individuals. He mostly excelled in speed. But now, if he could completely bridge that gap while also increasing his cultivation potential, he certainly wouldn't hesitate.
Even while his injuries had yet to fully heal, Elton pushed himself to his limits with all of his training: lifting pieces of dilapidated buildings as weight on top of the enchanted clothing, channeling his Ki and Magic through his body, and relentlessly practicing his sword skills.
Tongsheng, inspired by Elton's example, naturally trained and cultivated alongside him. She would even receive pointers from him as she attempted to evolve her skills and strengthen herself. She was also the only one actively hunting and exploring the areas further out on a frequent basis, sometimes joined by Elton or Shayleaf.
Shayleaf also wore a set of the weighted clothing, though she didn't train her body nearly as rigorously as Elton. In the end, while she would grow stronger physically, she was a mage who specialized in ranged skills. Most of her time was spent cultivating and refining her magics, especially those newly inherited from the vampire side of her bloodline.
Currently sitting in her makeshift room, Shayleaf looked at a summoned figure before her. It was a short man with plant-like features, crimson eyes, bat wings, fangs, and dark leaf-patterned clothes. This was no ordinary summon, but an existence she had created with her magic—a familiar.
"I greet thee, oh great Mistress," the short man said with a bow.
"Hmm, interesting. You may raise your head," Shayleaf said with a cute smile full of glee.
"Yes, Mistress." His heart thumped slightly upon seeing her expression as he raised his head.
"Since you're practically a newborn familiar, it's only right that I name you—unless you'd rather name yourself?"
"No! It would be my honor to be named by the Mistress!!!"
"Eh… fine. Then I'll name you Corvin Shay-Crimroot, following the rules of my family where your last name is my name."
"I humbly accept and feel incredibly blessed by the universe to be graced with such a name from the most beautiful and powerful master! I am now Corvin Shay-Crimroot!"
"Ehh? Um, yes, yes. Alright Corvin, you can be at ease now and begin your training as well as cultivation as a newborn familiar."
"If it is for my Mistress, I will do whatever it takes! I will honor your orders!"
Corvin ran out of her makeshift room and began his own training. Shayleaf, watching him, was confused by his peculiar enthusiasm but dismissed it.
"Hmm, well, maybe his original self before rebirth was already like that..?"
Before Corvin became her familiar, he had been a humanoid man half-dead in the Crimson Forest. Not necessarily an enemy, he only happened to be there, already on death's door. Shayleaf, still in her merciful nature despite her outwardly crazed state, had given him a chance at rebirth, biting his neck with her fangs and sealing him with dark bloody magic mixed with elven scripts.
Now, she pulled out two more individuals from her Spatial bag—both she had found in similar near-death states. One was a human male she suspected from a sect around Brawlmanica; the other was a demonic beast woman, once forced into slavery. Shayleaf had rescued her accidentally during one of their group's encounters with thugs, thanks to Tongsheng's allure.
The woman's original form had been that of a green-and-gold panther with fiery cuffs around her arms and legs, beaten half to death. After Shayleaf's intervention, she had transformed into a very beautiful woman with striking green-and-gold features, voluptuous and alluring. Even Elton had struggled with rising desires upon seeing her, much to Christy and Shayleaf's dismay.
Similarly, Shayleaf gave her the choice of rebirth. After a bit of persuasion, she accepted, and was sealed into death before being carried in Shayleaf's Spatial bag until now.
After invoking her magic, both bodies crystallized. Two hours later, the crystals shattered, releasing a crimson aura mixed with remnants of their former selves. Slowly, the two awoke, adjusting to their new forms.
"You've awakened. Ah, as for your current bodies—you'll need to readjust. In a sense your physical ages have reversed a bit for acclimation, but with training and cultivation you'll become similar to how you were before… perhaps even stronger," Shayleaf said with a beautiful smile.
The man's heart thumped as budding fanaticism filled him. The demonic beast woman, meanwhile, bowed in reverence before glancing toward a certain direction where Elton's presence lingered.
Later that night, Elton, Christy, and Tongsheng stood before the three familiars as they bowed in greeting—though everyone could tell it was mostly a formality bound by Shayleaf's will.
"H-hey, Prawna, can you stop looking at Brother Elly like that…" Shayleaf said, fidgeting.
"Forgive me, my Mistress. Perhaps it's my nature, and the aura I smell from him… but I feel very strong positive feelings for Milord Elton," Prawna replied with a wry smile.
"Uuuoo…" Shayleaf began to squirm in discomfort.
Christy sighed with a distressed expression, while Tongsheng only looked on, thinking it was natural since she too held deep gratitude and feelings for Elton.
As for Corvin and the other man, Cromlan Shay-Crimroot, their eyes were fixed entirely on Shayleaf with fanatical reverence.
"Mistress, worry not, for I only have eyes for you as your number one familiar!" Corvin said with vigor.
"Mistress, I, your number one familiar, will do my very best to satisfy you in all ways! I will die for you!" Cromlan added fiercely.
The two glared at each other with steely expressions filled with ire. Shayleaf nearly collapsed with a headache, almost regretting creating familiars at all.