The spectral tendrils of corruption lashed out, their shadowy forms leaving trails of darkness in the air. Lucas dodged, the attacks passing through the space he had occupied a split second before. Each near-miss sent a jarring pulse through his system, and he watched his mana bar tick steadily downward. This was a battle of spiritual attrition, and he was losing.
Conventional methods were useless. A healing salve passed harmlessly through the spirit's form. A basic [Tame] attempt fizzled out with no effect. The rules of this fight were different, more conceptual.
He retreated to the edge of the altar, his mind racing, Kael a tense, gray shadow at his side. He re-read the cryptic clue from his [System Insight].
[The bond between a Tamer and his partner is a light that can drive away any shadow.]
A light. Not a skill, not an item, but a feeling made manifest. He looked at Kael, truly looked at him. He saw not just a summon, a collection of stats and skills, but a partner who had stood with him from the very beginning. The terrified pup hiding behind his legs, the determined wolf fighting for its life against spiders, the loyal guardian who had intercepted Rive's furious charge. Their journey, their shared struggle for survival, was the foundation of their bond. That was the source of the "light."
"Kael, to me," Lucas said, his voice imbued with a new, quiet authority. "Trust me."
The wolf moved to his side without hesitation. Lucas stopped dodging. He stood his ground, placed a hand on Kael's head, and closed his eyes.
He didn't try to cast a spell. He focused his formidable intellect on a new task: he reached into his own memory, his own spirit, and grasped the raw, untamed feeling of his connection to Kael. He visualized their loyalty, a tangible, quantifiable stat in his interface, and pushed it outwards. He channeled the shared desperation of their fights, the quiet companionship of their nights in the wilderness, the fierce, protective instinct they held for one another.
A soft, golden light began to emanate from his hand, flowing into Kael. The light then expanded, weaving between them until it formed a visible, shimmering tether of pure energy. It wasn't a skill; it was the visualization of their bond itself.
The lashing tendrils of the corrupted spirit recoiled from the light as if burned. The Ancient One's spectral form shuddered, a low moan echoing from it—a sound not of aggression, but of pain.
The corruption fought back. Sensing a threat, the shadowy tentacles multiplied, launching a furious assault. Lucas was forced to move, the golden tether stretching and flowing with him as he dodged. Maintaining his focus while evading the attacks was an immense strain on his mind.
He realized he couldn't win defensively. The spirit was too large, the corruption too widespread. He needed to envelop it.
"Kael, circle around it!" Lucas commanded. "Keep the tether strong!"
Kael understood instantly. He broke away, sprinting around the massive spirit. The golden thread of light stretched between them, and as Kael ran, it wrapped around the writhing form of the Ancient One like a sacred chain. They weren't caging it; they were embracing it.
The spirit let out a final, cathartic roar, a sound of both agony and profound release. The shadowy tendrils dissolved into black smoke, vanishing into nothingness. The spectral beast's form stabilized, its tormented, flickering light coalescing into a calm, steady, and brilliant blue.
It lowered its massive, ethereal head in a gesture of gratitude toward Lucas and Kael. Then, it dissolved, turning into a silent, cascading shower of pure blue energy that flowed directly into Lucas.
A torrent of notifications flooded his vision, the most satisfying he had ever seen.
[Trial of Empathy: Complete!]
[You have purified the Spirit of the Ancient One.]
[You have reached Level 10!]
[Quest 'The Tamer's Legacy' is now complete!]
[A new path is open to you. Please choose your Job Advancement:]
[Option 1: Beast Master]
[Option 2: Spirit Shaman]