----3rd pov----
"Now, this is interesting," Ray thought while observing his first ever fight between Soul Beasts.
After five days in the forest, Ray had gotten used to the environment, becoming more attuned to nature in some way.
This gave him a kind of calming feeling—a feeling he suspected was mostly his bloodline at play—but it never surpassed the relaxation he felt in his Plana. Still, he had to keep his guard up at all times.
He watched the battle in the middle zone of the forest. He had already found dozens of beasts with fire or light affinities, but none over 3,000 years. This fight was a much-needed opportunity.
Let's see what type they are first, he thought, activating his Appraisal
Appraisal:
Crystal Stag: 7,500 Years (Weakened by giving birth - Female)
Affinities: Crystal and Light. Known for high intelligence and detachment.
Volcano Serpent: 8,000 Years (Male)
Affinities: Fire and Earth. Known for aggressive and savage character.
Oh, so a berserker vs. an artist-like fighter? Ray frowned after closer observation, finding the fight itself weird. The serpent was attacking fiercely, but the deer was only defending, never once leaving its spot, as if it couldn't.
'Wait, don't tell me!' Realizing something, Ray immediately scanned the lone tree directly behind the Crystal Stag.
Appraisal
Location: Crystal Deer Habitat Cave (Contains a Newborn Crystal Stag Cub.)
Crystal Stag Cub:10 Y O (Newborn).
Special Trait: Cub blood, below 100 years, provides unique property: helps any type of cultivation (human and beast) rise their level by two Ranks at minimum.
Limitation: Property is lost after surpassing 100 years.
Crystal Deer Antennas:3 Pairs (Shed every 10,000 years).
'HOLY $&#!!*' Ray exclaimed internally 'That means the mama deer is at 30,000 years old at least, or her ancestry is!'
He looked back at the deer. 'And that little one is a treasure in the eyes of any cultivator. No surprise I never saw anything like this in the books.' This was another proof that what he knew from the books and series wasn't everything out there in this world, filling him with both excitement and forbidding awe.
An idea came to him 'Wait, maybe I can get her to be my first Spirit Partner for my Soul Lungs? But first, let's help her out.'
He kept a closer eye on the fight. A moment later, the serpent was attacking, almost landing a clean hit.
Ray seized the chance and channeled his ultimate fire and light element to disrupt the fire control of the serpent. With its elemental balance disrupted, the deer found a chance to land a clean hit, ramming the serpent and sending it flying directly toward Ray's position.
Ray took the opportunity, channeling his strength and the Artifact Leg, and landed a ferocious dropkick on the serpent's head, killing it in the process.
A moment later, purple energy coalesced from the serpent, forming a Soul Ring. Ray observed the amazing phenomenon. Although he was humbled to see it for the first time in real life, his research allowed him to sense what was happening inside the ring. He felt not just soul and spiritual energy, but a dark, repulsive energy of an unknown kind. Even in his Plana, he had never come across something so disgusting, strengthening his utter rejection of the Soul Ring method.
Letting the ring drift, Ray looked back at the deer, raising his hands in a non-threatening gesture. "I have no ill intention toward you. I know that you can understand me, can I come closer to heal your wound?"
Crystal Stag's POV...
'Really bad luck today' the deer thought, dodging a fire blast.
Not even a year had passed since she gave birth, and this was the eighth time someone eyeing her child had appeared. Because she couldn't risk the scorched serpent slipping past her to her cub, she was stuck defending, getting more injured with every exchange.
In the worst timing ever, she sensed a human watching.
But to her surprise, in a critical moment, the human helped her by disrupting the serpent's fire element, leaving it defenseless.
Taking the chance, she rammed the beast directly, sending it flying toward the human. She watched as the weak-looking human, using some metallic leg, killed the tough Volcano Serpent with a single, precise kick.
"I have no ill intention toward you. I know that you can understand me, can I come closer to heal your wound?" The human turned toward her, hands raised.
His words surprised her, but her suspicions were high. "What gives you the idea that I will trust humans? Last time I checked, you hunt us for Rings, so why help me for nothing?" she took a step back, defensively releasing her bloodlust.
"I never said to trust me, I know how it's out there, but anyway, as you probably sensed, I don't even have a single soul ring, so I don't pose a threat to you. The only way I could help you before is my superior attitude of light and fire, so you can keep your guard up and let me heal you as a show of goodwill?"
She just glared at him intently. Weak? Yes. But how do I know this isn't a trap? And 'goodwill'?! What is this human even thinking? There is NO good between a human and a Soul Beast! She released even more bloodlust, warning him to leave.
But contrary to her expectation, he just sighed and sat down right in front of her.
"At least give it a chance? I just want to propose an idea, since you're the first Soul Beast that didn't attack on sight. I am trying to start my own system in a different direction from Soul Rings, and to do that, I need a Soul Beast. I need your help," Ray looked right into her eyes. "So what's your call? Want to listen?"
There was no malice in his silver eyes, only determination and a strong will. This calmed the deer a little. As a Crystal Stag, she could judge intent from a being's eyes.
She kept herself away from others, but she had observed humans. This one was clearly a child, which was the main source of her suspicion, as children his age were usually escorted.
Scanning the surroundings a couple of times and finding nothing, she looked back at Ray.
"What you want, kid?" she decided, giving him the benefit of the doubt.